Chapter 17
The portal opened allowing the party of Ronin, Kung Lao, Ho Sung Pak, Kitana and the spirit of Liu Kang to exit. They found themselves in a large park near a lake. In the short distance, they could see the wedding guests arriving. Ronin had never seen so many tuxedos, formal dresses and limousines except on television arriving at a major awards show of some kind.
Ronin hoped they wouldn't be too out of place as he saw few splashes of color scattered around the group. Kung Lao wore formal monk's robes with his bladed hat on his back, Kitana in her dress, probably had her fans somewhere on her person, Ho Sung Pak in a simple tuxedo and Ronin in an ensemble that was a combination of his off-white pants and tunic similar to what he wore to the Elder Gods test, only with a pull-on red over-tunic that was open on the sides and tied with a black belt at the waist. As a final touch, Spark had placed the Japanese kanji symbol for a ronin or masterless warrior on the back.
The line to enter the wedding area was relatively short and moved quickly. The man checking the invitations, obviously a guard despite the tuxedo he wore, would look at a list on a clipboard, compare some numbers on the list to the invitation and pass the holder and their guest(s) through to the next checkpoint where two more guards would run a metal detector wand over the guest(s) and pass them through.
Kung Lao, as the holder of the invitation, was in front of the party and presented it to the first guard in the process. The man did a double take when he looked over the invitation. Flipping to some pages at the back of the clipboard to review some instructions, he looked at the invitation again and then at the party being led be Kung Lao, and then to his instructions again. He said: "You and your party are the last of these special edition invitations to arrive." He spoke into a lapel microphone as a door disguised as a decorative hedge opened behind him. The guard said: "My instructions were to pass you and your party through to the V.I.P. area, no questions asked. Please go right in and enjoy yourselves."
The group walked through the hedge door into a smaller pavilion area covered by a large white parachute like roof. There were several people already there. From the descriptions that Ronin had read about in the journal, he recognized Sub-Zero, his apprentice Frost, Jax, Kenshi, and Cyrax. Johnny and Sonya were no where to be seen at the moment but the group broke off into animated discussions as handshakes and hugs were exchanged. Ronin was definitely feeling like the odd man out when Ho Sung Pak came up to him and said: "Let me introduce you to my friends."
There were several uncertain looks from the assembled warriors. Ronin could almost hear the questions: 'Who is he? Why did he come with Kung Lao? Why is Raiden bringing him over here? What business does he have here?' Ho Sung Pak drew Ronin into the group and said: "My friends, you knew me as Raiden, God of Thunder, and Protector of the Earth Realm, but I can no longer claim that distinction." There were some excited murmurs from the group as Ho Sung Pak motioned for silence. When he got it, he continued: "I was Raiden, but now am only a mortal like you. My name now is Ho Sung Pak. This is my successor. I can not give you his real name unless he wants to tell you. Cosmos's rules, not mine. This is Raiden now. Please support him as you all supported me in my time. He will not disappoint."
After Kung Lao and Kitana also spoke in Ronin's defense, Jax was the first to step forward dressed in a sleeveless tuxedo to allow for his arms and offered a hand, even a cybernetically enhanced one. Ronin took it as Jax said: "Good enough for me. Welcome. Glad to meet you." Ronin returned the greeting: "Good to meet you too. It's good to be here." One by one, the members of the group shook his hand. Sub-Zero wore an ice blue suit and shook hands next. Ronin saw the very flesh of his hands was blue as if from severe cold damage but was surprised to feel only pleasantly cool, not freezing cold flesh in the handshake. Frost wore a matching dress and simply bowed to him which he returned.
Cyrax was next; his tuxedo too was specially modified to allow for his cybernetic physique. Kenshi wore a tuxedo that matched Cyrax and Jax's but without any visible enhancements. The journal had described Kenshi's background in detail, but since he was in public, he wore dark sunglasses over his ruined eyes and even though he didn't need it, he carried a collapsible rod of the sort that visually impaired people "see" with.
Jax came back to Ronin and said: "Since its bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the ceremony, let me take you, Ho Sung Pak, Kung Lao and Kitana to see Johnny and Sonya separately." Jax led the group to another room where Ronin finally got to meet one of his favorite actors in the whole world, Johnny Cage.
As the group entered the groom's area, they could almost feel the anticipation coming from the rooms' sole occupant. Johnny was just finishing his bowtie as he looked in the mirror to see the group led by Jax enter. Jax said: "Whassup pretty boy?" Johnny politely flipped off Jax as he straightened his tuxedo and said: "Pretty good. How about you brass biceps?" Jax smiled in turn at the comment and said: "Got some friends here to see you." Johnny's pearly white smile exploded across his face as took in the group. He said: "Kung, you made it. Good to see you." Kung Lao smiled and said: "Wouldn't miss it. Thanks for inviting me and thanks to Raiden for bringing me, or I wouldn't be able to be here."
Johnny looke over to Ho Sung Pak, still thinking him to be Raiden and said: "Thanks bolt boy. Thanks a lot." Ho Sung Pak smiled wearily at this comment, having heard it too many times to count as Johnny looked at Kitana, took a deep breath and said: "Kitana, you look beautiful; you truly belong in Hollywood with your name in lights." Kitana blushed lightly at the compliment as Johnny took her hand lightly in his and kissed the knuckle. She said: "You are still. . . what is the expression? An old smoothie." Johnny smiled again and directed his attention to Ronin.
"And you are?" he asked. Before Ronin could answer, Ho Sung Pak stepped in and said: "This is my successor Johnny. He is Raiden now." Ronin extended his hand to the slightly perplexed actor and said: "It's a true pleasure to meet you Johnny Cage. I know you must hear it a lot but I have to say it anyway, you always were one of my favorite actors and I've seen all your movies." Johnny accepted the hand and the compliment and said: "Always good to meet another fan, even a godly one. Thanks." Reaching behind him, Johnny produced a large 8"x10" glossy from somewhere and wrote across it: "To my best fan Raiden, from Johnny Cage". Handing it to Ronin, said: "A small token of friendship." Ronin accepted the photo with a grin. Jax rolled his eyes and said: "I'm taking them to go see Sonya real quick. Catch you in thirty."
Jax led them out of the groom area, across the V.I.P. pavilion and into the bride area. As with Johnny, the group could almost feel the anticipation. Sonya was sitting in front of a lit dressing room table just finishing her lipstick as she saw Jax come in with the group. She was dressed in a gorgeous, flowing white dress with her veil sitting on the table next to her. Her smile threatened to split her face open as she stood and said: "Outstanding. You're all here." She came over to the group and kissed Kung Lao on the cheek as she said: "Thank you so much for coming today. It means the world to Johnny and me that you could be here today."
Kung Lao said: "Thanks for inviting us in the first place." Sonya looked to Kitana next and the two exchanged a sisterly hug. Kitana said: "I'm happy to be here and happier still for the both of you." Kitana wiped at her eyes to keep the tears in check as Sonya saw Ho Sung Pak and said: "Raiden. Whoa, I'm really surprised you could be here and glad at the same time." Ho Sung Pak smiled and said: "Not a problem at all Sonya. Let me introduce you to the new Raiden."
Sonya's face was as perplexed as Johnny's had been as Ronin bowed and said: "A pleasure to meet you Sonya Blade. My predecessor spoke highly of you." Sonya returned the bow as best she could in her wedding dress and said: "I won't pretend to understand the change of command as it were, but just the same, I'm very glad you could be here today."
Sonya turned back to Ho Sung Pak and said: "Since you helped bring Johnny and me together, I thought it would only be fitting if you would give me away? Both of my parents are gone now. Would you please do that for me?" Ho Sung Pak bowed deeply and said in a voice touched with emotion: "It would be the greatest honor to do so Sonya." She looked back to Kitana and said: "I held a place open for you as my Maid of Honor. Would you please do that?" Kitana couldn't hold the tears back anymore and gave Sonya another hug and said: "Without reservation, I would be honored to do so."
Jax put a metal shod arm around Kung Lao and Ronin's shoulders as he said: "Well guys, let's leave these three to iron out the details and go get everyone else to their seats. The show starts in just a little while." As Jax again led the way to the V.I.P. area, Kung Lao spoke to Ronin gently and said: "Raiden, I have only now had the chance to say so, but ever since you came for me in China, I have felt another presence nearby. It is somehow familiar and different at the same time. Have you felt it?" Ronin said: "Not only do I feel it Kung but I am responsible for bringing it here. Be patient for a little while longer yet and after the ceremony, I will answer your questions." Kung Lao digested this news and was silent on the subject.