The mission was supposed to be easy. There were some Edenian dissidents in Outworld that wanted to try and assassinate the emperor so that they could separate Edenia once more.
While something of this nature would usually be left to Shao Kahn's own forces like Kitana, Jade, Skarlet, or some of the Tarkatan troops led by Baraka, they were all busy preparing for Mortal Kombat. So, the emperor decided to leave these idiots to killers for hire acquired from the Black Dragons.
Kabal was bored as he culled his way through the population of the safe house along with Kano, a fellow member of the Black Dragons. While Kabal relies on his hook swords and enhanced speed, Kano prefers knives, his fists, and the laser his artificial eye is capable of producing.
"Buddy, oh pal of mine," Kano says. "I just love a good bloodbath in the morning. Don't you? The smell and sight, nothing compares to it."
"That is because you are a psychopath," Kabal says. While the two are not exactly friends, they are as close as two mercenaries can get.
"I have the left room, you want the right?" Kano asks.
"Sure," Kabal says. He opens the right door to see a women swing a sword at his head. He deflects it and disarms her with the curve of his hook sword, her blade clattering down on the floor beside her.
He kicks her to the far wall before slamming the dagger point at the bottom of his hook sword's hilt into her heart.
As she dies, she looks to the side and reaches for something before going limp as the life leaves her body. Kabal looks to see a box with slits in the sides sitting on the bed. It seems like that is what she was pointing at.
Kabal walks over and lifts the top of the box before freezing in surprise at what was inside. A baby wrapped in a blanket lies sleeping, his eyes closed and his breathing steady. He was not awoke from the loud fight that had just ensued throughout the building.
Since the emperor had ordered for no living soul to leave the building alive, Kabal pulls back one of his cane swords and takes aim at the infant. "Nothing personal, kid," he says. "Just business."
But despite his effort, he cannot bring himself the end the child's life. Call it empathy or the last dregs of a conscience in his cold, dead heart, but he couldn't do it.
Instead, Kabal sheathes his swords before closing the box and picking it up. He carries it out the room to be met by Kano.
"What you got there?" the man asks.
"Some valuables I could grab," Kabal says. "You can never have too much gold, right?"
"Damn, I should have called the right then," Kano says. "Well, finders keepers. Let's get out of this shithole."
The kid is lucky that Kano didn't pick right. He probably wouldn't have lived.
--
I can't believe that I seriously have to break into this place as my first mission. Let alone to retrieve for a box of Kano's cigars that was taken during a Special Forces raid on a Black Dragon's safe house.
I tried to get my dad to assign me something cool. Hell, I would have taken a bodyguard gig even. But he just had to think that it would be funny to give the box back to Kano for Christmas. Those guys have the fucking weirdest friendship that I have ever seen. They are friends, but they act like they want to be emotionally free to kill the other at a moment's notice.
Now, that led to me breaking into the literal headquarters of the Special Forces. I would just buy a new box of cigars, but apparently those things are worth 50 grand a box. If I had that kind of pocket change, I wouldn't be a mercenary.
Thankfully, I was able to procure a holographic projector. It is designed to replace my appearance with that of a Special Forces private. I had already made fake papers which would back up my identity and had a Black Dragon hacker insert my artificial ID into the system.
I was making my way to the evidence storage warehouse when I passed by a cafeteria and saw a cute blond in there. She was sitting in a chair with her feet on the table as she read a magazine and blew bubbles with some gum.
I stop myself before I automatically head towards the cafeteria. On one hand, I could finish the mission I was sent here to complete and almost definitely make it out of here unscathed. Or, I could go and hit on the girl and hopefully that leads to something.
It is a foregone conclusion that I would go to the cafeteria. I listen to my dick and it has never led me wrong.
I pull up the chair beside her and sit down. "Hi," I say with a wave. That is all that I got. Oh, I am such a fucking idiot. Why on earth did I walk over here if I didn't have a game plan.
The girl had a smile on her face at my lackluster attempt to begin a conversation. She looks over at me and gives me a once over. My guess is that she is checking my attractiveness to gauge if I am handsome enough to warrant actual words. I programmed the hologram covering to replicate what I would look like if I was in one of the Special Forces uniforms. This was intended to give me the chance to switch into an actual uniform if I had to, but I am worried that my appearance is not up to snuff.
She closes the magazine and sets it down in her lap before looking at me again. "Do you want to try that introduction again?" she asks. "Usually, a guy gives there name as well."
"My bad," I say. "I am Kevin."
"I'm Cassie," she says. "I can't remember ever seeing you around before. Are you new here?"
"Not really," I reply. "I mainly just keep to myself."
"So, why did you want to talk to me?" she asks.
"I was mainly hoping to ask you out on a date," I say. "But I think that I might have ruined my chances with my sad excuse for an introduction."
"Well, that's not insurmountable," Cassie says. "You still have the possibility of wowing me enough for the opportunity to take me to dinner."
I am about to start talking when I notice that Cassie's expression is soured. "What is it?" I ask.
"Your holographic projector is broken," she says. I look down and see that she is right. Then, I realize that she probably knows I have no business being here.
"Can I have a pass this one time?" I ask. "I am only here for some cigars. Nothing harmful."
"Are you Black Dragon?" she asks.
I glance down at my outfit. The torso is made of black fabric with armor plates sown on to maximize the protection from gunfire and blades weapons. My legs are covered with jeans possessing similar armor enhancements and my feet are in combat boots. My head is over Ed by a good built into my outfit. There are no identifying marks which would rightfully associate me with the Black Dragons.
"No," I say. "I am not with the Black Dragons."
"You have to be one of the worst liars that I have ever seen," Cassie says. "It took you over fifteen seconds to say no."
"I barely qualify as a member," I say. "This is my first meaningful crime."
"You seem alright," she says. "But my mom would kill me if I let a member of the Black Dragons just leave."
"Who's your mom?" I ask.
"General Sonya Blade," Cassie says. "She has some bad history with you guys."
Oh, my, God. I am talking to Cassie Cage. I really should have read the files on the heavy hitters in Special Forces.
The worst part about all of this is that it turns out my dick has led me wrong.
"Can I get a head start?" I ask.
Cassie thinks about it for a moment. "No," she decides.
"Okay," I say. I bolt off of my chair and shoot out of the cafeteria in a purple blur. I sprint as far as I can at max speed before dropping back down to regular. I am so glad that Dad taught me how to do that.
I rush into the storage warehouse and get to where I know the cigars are stored. I search through the storage container and grab the box I need. I turn around and run back to the entrance of the evidence storage area and I see the doorway blocked by Cassie and another girl. The other girl is African American with short black hair. She has grey metal gauntlets on her arms that I have a logical amount of fear concerning. I had to come in here without weapons or a metal detector would have sensed them. Like an idiot, I didn't even think of getting non-metal equipment made.
"Hey, Cassie," I say. "Who's your friend?"
"This is Jacqui Briggs," she says with a smile.
Fuck! Why does the universe hate me? I am just trying to pull off a little larceny, is that so much to ask?
"Daughter of Jackson 'Jax' Briggs?" I ask. "The dude who has those metal arms that crush heads like grapes?"
Jacqui has a grin that is almost identical to Cassie's. "The one and only. It seems we have the pleasure of fighting another legacy as well. From what Cassie tells me, you are Kabal's son."
"I just have to ask, on a scale of one to ten, how much effort are you going to put into arresting me?" I ask. "Follow up question, on a scale of one to ten, how badly are you going to hurt me in the pursuit of arresting me?"
"About ten," Jacqui says.
"And ten," Cassie finishes.
"Really?" I ask. "A level ten beating because of cigars?"
"Yes," Cassie says, her smile as big as ever.
"Okay, before I get beat to a pulp, what was your end decision on the whole date thing?" I ask. "Because I never got that far in the whole impressing you process."
Cassie thinks about it for a moment. "If you weren't Black Dragon and weren't about to go to prison, I might go out with you," she admits.
"So hypothetically, if I were to escape or get out of prison after serving a full term, would you still be interested in a date?" I ask.
"Maybe to the second one," she says. "I am not sure about the first one though. I will probably decide by the end of all of this."
"Are you to seriously flirting right now?" Jacqui asks. "We are supposed to be capturing him, but you to are talking about the details of a date."
"I can just leave so you guys can talk this out," I suggest.
"No," Cassie says. "I think it is time for the beating."
"Well, if you insist," I say. With that, I shoot forward with super speed and roll like a log. This leads to me knocking the girls feet out from under them before they can react. I pop back up and run as they both hit the floor.
"Bye!" I shout back as I run away at normal speed. I could switch to my higher gear, but I want to save up my energy for that if I have to fight for my freedom.
I am actually close to the exit that I planned when a massive steel shutter shoots down. Even with a burst of super speed, I am too slow to make it through the gap.
"Shit!" I say as I slam against the shutter. "Plan B."
I go as quickly as I can to the Special Forces garage. There should probably be some way to escape or vehicle capable of blowing a hole to escape.
I get there and I see Cassie standing in the way of the open garage/hangar door. She has the same cute smirk on her face as she stands there.
"You messes up Jacqui's ankle with that roll move you did back there," Cassie says.
"Sorry, not sorry," I say. "That was kind of the point."
"Why do you need those cigars so bad?" she asks.
"Well, would you believe it's for a Christmas present?" I ask.
"Actually, yes," Cassie says.
"So about that date," I say. "There is a carnival going to come to the town close to here in about a week. Want to go?"
"Well, that would require you to still be free," she says. "Why would I ever let you go?"
"Aren't you the least bit curious if I am genuine with my offer of a date?" I ask. "Also, funnel cake. It's a win-win."
"Hm," Cassie says as she mills over my proposal. "And how would I know that you wouldn't use the date as a chance to have the Black Dragons capture me?"
"Why would I ever waste a chance to go on a date with such a beautiful girl?" I ask. "Plus, you would probably be able to tell if I am lying. So, Friday night at 10:00?"
"Maybe I'll be there, maybe I won't," she says. "I guess you will just have to find out."
"I guess I will," I say. Then, I sprint past here in a blur with my enhanced speed.
This mission wasn't a complete bust. I got the cigars and I know what I am doing on Friday.