Over the next four years, Kabal was stricken with chronic pneumonia. But despite his physical handicaps, he was determined to be a good husband and father. He went hunting with his little sons, Orion and Tahatan. As they grew from toddlers to children their personalities became more evident.
Orion took after his mother. He had Sareena's fighting spirit, her athleticism, and daring nature. He taught himself gymnastics and martial arts from video and books.
Tahatan was quieter. He enjoyed reading with his father, learning about ancient cultures and stories. He adored art and was the more sensitive, intellectual, of the two brothers.
This was why Kabal was concerned when he caught Tahatan chasing his brother with one of his old hook swords.
"Papa! Tan went into your special secret room!" Orion shouted as they ran past the kitchen.
Kabal had been sitting at the kitchen table talking with Sarenna about sending the boys to school on the mainland. "Tahatan!"
The little boy immediately stopped and began to cry. "Ori messed up my painting."
Sareena put down her coffee. "That is no reason for you to touch Mommy or Daddy's tools."
The little boy nodded, wiping tears from his chubby cheeks.
Sareena and Kabal had indeed kept a 'secret room' the house their 'tools' for when they went on jobs. They didn't need the money, but they enjoyed the perks and protection. "Why don't we go for a walk?"
Orion happy came back. "Can we go camping, Papa?"
Ever since the boys were old enough to walk Kabal would take them camping on his land.
Orion loved to run around. He seemed to have been born with Kabal's speed ability, to the point where it was almost scary. He could disappear into a blur only to reappear up a tree or hanging off a cliff.
Tahatan, meanwhile would draw and paint. He stayed close to his father while working in his notebook. But he had the tendency to sneak off if he saw something that intrigued him.
This was how it all ended.
Kabal had turned his back for only a moment when suddenly both boys were missing. The panic-stricken parents searched the island. First, they worked together, sharing their knowledge of where the children usually spent their time. After a while, they decided to split up. Kabal went north, to the cliffside.
There, at the bottom, near the beach, he found the bodies of his little sons.
Kabal lept down the cliff landing on his feet. He cupped his hands over his mouth at the sight. They were dead. He reached for their bodies but they suddenly started to disappear.
Kronika appeared like a guardian angel. "My dear Kabal," he voice was a haunting echo. "Right now, your heart must be broken." But remember; what is done can always be undone."
"You can save them?"
The time goddess smiled. "For a trade; your soul will be damned to the sea of blood for all eternity but your family will be spared."
"Why are you doing this? I returned the hourglass- you owe me!"
Kronika laughed. "I am a titan: even in defeat I am always in control."
"I don't think so," said a third, voice. A figure swept by in a cloud of energy. Thsi figure seemed to have hook swords and after making a few loops, it tore the time goddess to little pieces. "Let's see you come back from that- bitch!" The figure came to a stop in front of Kabal. He wore a mask, similar to something Kabal would have worn in his black dragon days but it was silver and gold. "Hi, Dad."
"Orion?"
The young man lifted his mask, revealing his tan skin and dark eyes. He appeared to be in his late teens, early twenties. "Wow," there were tears in the young man's eyes. "I can't remember the last time I saw you." He had an Australian accent, likely from education on the mainland. "I-I can't do this, Tan was always better at explaining shit."
A blue portal opened and another young man stepped through. This boy had long black hair pulled back in a professional looking ponytail. He wore a white and blue tailored suit that looked to be made from material similar to Konika's armor. "Long story short...this really sucks." Tahatan approached Kabal. "In the future, we kick Kronika's ass and retake the hourglass. Except unlike you, we don't make the mistake of giving it back."
"For all the good that did," Orion grumbled. "When Kronika 'died' she'd actually escaped through a wormhole. We had to go back in time to make sure that she didn't cause any of the timelines where you get burned to a crisp. Oh, and just so you know, it's never the fault of Sonya Blade or her forces."
"We can prove it, too," Tahatan added. He placed his hand on Kabal's shoulder and shot a bolt of blue energy.
Kabal's mind was filled with images of his 'past.' In one vision he was an Edenian soldier, tortured by Shao Kahn. In another, he was a police officer who took a fireball to the face, during the invasion of Earthrealm. And in yet another, he was the undead revenant servant of Quan Chi.
"All of those have been taken care of," Tahatan explained. "Unfortunately that left Kronika with only one option- to kill us at our most vulnerable."
"Luckily Tahatan is a bonafide genius," Orion said, taking a seat in the sand. He removed his jacket, revealing arms covered in glowing tattoos. "Remove us from the timeline and we'll be safe or at least alive in our current place. The fact that we now run the hourglass, kind of helped, but unfortunately that means you'll never know us."
Tahatan nodded. "I'll see what I can send you via my memories." He cupped Kabal's face, allowing an even stronger burst of blue energy.
What Kabal saw in the next few moments was truly a gift.
Tahatan was a brilliant student who invented new armor, weaponry and even communications technology all before graduating high school at the age of ten. While Orion continued to develop Kabal's speed, strength, and agility, making him an excellent athlete.
Kabal encouraged the boys to always remain humble, despite their gifts. He loved them both, and he was most proud of when they could find ways to work together. This led to them finding ways to go to the same schools, start humanitarian causes, and at the age of twenty-one, they joined forces with the Fire God Liu Kang to defend Earthrealm.
And that was how they were put in a position to retake the hourglass.
Tahatan's voice echoed though Kabal's mind, like a movie narrator. "You grew up poor. But you taught us never to give into greed. You taught us to value and take pride in our culture and our family."
Kabal was now treated to images of the boys as small children. Sareena taught them how to cook, then as a family, they donated food, and volunteer hours to a homeless shelter.
Kabal taught them how to fight using wooden weapons, (and also bandaged their scraped up arms and legs.) He always praised their efforts.
As a result, the boys grew up to be true heroes of the realm.
Kabal doubled over in pain as Tahatan released his hold. Part of him truly did want to die, at the thought of losing his children forever.
"Dad, this is not goodbye," Tahatan said.
Orion stood next to his brother as a portal opened. "We will watch over you and Mom, on this island, for the rest of your days. And when the time comes, you will join us in heaven as elder Gods, to rule by Lord Liu Kang's side."
Kabal knew he had no choice but to say goodbye. "I love you."
"We know," Tahatan replied. "We always knew. And we will be forever grateful."
The portal closed, leaving Kabal alone. He walked back to the house where Sareena was standing by the fireplace. She appeared to be placing a flower on a photo alter. "It's been six years since they disappeared."
"Six years?" Kabal asked with concern. Was this an entirely new timeline?
"I just wish we found something. I hate holding on to the idea that they were kidnapped, or their little bodies were washed away never to be seen again."
Kabal took her hand. "We have each other."
"Yeah, we do." Sareena turned to him and stroked his cheek, down his jawline to his throat.
It was only then Kabal realized, he had no breathing apparatus. His body was completely human and completely healed. And there was only one thing he wanted to do.