First Fight

The sound of drums began to fill up and echo in the halls around them. Bobby could not tell if they were from the drums or from his own heart beating inside his rib cage. Looking all around him he saw eyes fierce and angry looking at him. He was a stranger in a strange land with few friends to protect him.

"Kitana." Shao Khan said to his daughter who quickly appeared at his side." Put forth a warrior of your choosing."

"Me father?" she asked confused.

"Yes. Select one of your earthrealm warriors to fight." Kitana overjoyed at the chance to please her father bowed and turned away. Mileena stood back and grumbled with the silent Skarlet at her side.

Kitana walked before the Black Dragon Members Kabal, Kobra, and Kira. Stopping when she stood before the woman.

"You." She said pointing to the girl." Shall have the honor of fighting first." Kira gave a skeptical look to Kabal.

"Grandmaster Kabal, should I-"

"He has not ordered you." Said Kitana. "I have, you will fight." Kira stilled looked to her leader.

"Go." Was all he said. Kira then walked forward and stood in the center of the room. But Stryker had overheard the group talking and once he heard the name 'Kabal' clued in on the man it was spoken to.

"It can't be." He said rubbing his chin.

"what is it dude?" asked Joseph. But Stryker did not reply.

"Warriors!" Shao Khan boomed to his enemies." Choose your fighter!" Jax turned and faced his group. As he saw it all of them were ready to fight, all of them except Bobby. But to start this off he would put this in the hands of someone he trusted and knew wouldn't fail him.

"Sonya." He nodded to her. "You're up."

"Yes, sir." She nodded. Then began walking forward.

"Wait!" Bobby said as he suddenly jolted forward and grabbed her arm.

"What?" she asked turning around to face him. But Bobby didn't know what to say, he was at a lose for words. He didn't want to fight and he didn't want his friends to fight. He didn't want himself or any of his friends to die in this place. But he knew Sonya thought different. She was bolder, stronger, fiercer than he was he knew she'd be alright.

"Be careful." Was all he said. Sonya just nodded her head in acknowledgement. Her arm slipped from his grasp and she walked into the middle of the room.

"She'll be fine." Said Jax tapping Bobby on the shoulder.

"Your name?" Shao Khan asked.

"Lieutenant Sonya Blade, United States Special Forces." She answered, standing at parade rest before him.

"Sonya Blade versus Kira!" The crowd cheered all around them. Sonya turned and faced Kira raising her hands and balling them into fists." BEGIN!" And with that call and the sound of a gong the fight was on.

Kira was first to attack, jumping across the room and lunging at Sonya. But Sonya jumped to the side and avoided Kira, then punched her in the face. Kira stumbled over so Sonya punched her again. But this time Kira caught her fist and tried to hit Sonya with a back-handed punch. Sonya swung up her free arm and blocked with her forearm. Then she kicked up her leg and struck Kira in the torso, forcing her to stumble back more.

The crowd reacted with every blow, cheering or booing ferociously. Shao Khan and his warriors were silent watching back and forth as the fight went on.

Sonya ran up and jumped into the air kicking Kira in the chest once more, knocking her onto her back. Kira was one on knee when Sonya ran up and tried to knee her in her face. But Kira put up her arms and blocked then pushed Sonya's leg back, causing the woman to stumble back.

Then Kira jumped and kicked her leg up, aiming for Sonya's head. Sonya side-stepped the kick, grabbed Kira's leg and swung her down and into the ground.

"See I told you she'd be okay." Said Jax as he slammed his metal hand on Bobby's back.

"AH!" The boy groaned.

Sonya moved in to attack Kira once more but the second she got close the Black-Dragon member pulled out a knife and swung it at Sonya. The Lieutenant stumbled back holding her shoulder. The crowd cheered it's approval but Bobby jolted in fright.

Sonya had been cut from her left shoulder and across the upper part of the chest that Joseph liked so much. Looking forward Sonya saw that Kira held a Dragon's Tooth knife, a blade similar to that of Kano's butterfly knives.

Kira attacked once and now it was Sonya who was on the run. She ducked and dodged left and right, avoiding wherever Kira's blade went. Now it was Outworld's turn to be pleased. The fight had started off ill for them, but now it had turned in their favor.

Kira jumped forward and swung with her knife. Sonya jumped back to avoid it but backed herself into the wall, now she was stuck. Sweat raced down Bobby's face as he watched Kira lunge at her. He though it was over for her now.

But Sonya had better faith in her abilities than Bobby and had been fighter longer than he or even Kira had. When the girl lunged at her with the knife she moved to the side, raised up and her leg and trapped Kira's arm in then. Then she swung her body up and over, wrapping herself around Kira even more, until the two were sprawled out on the ground in an arm-bar. Then with the girl's wrist in her hands Sonya easily snapped it in two causing her to drop the knife and scream out in pain. Then Sonya rolled her body up so that she was on top of Kira now, but the girl didn't have the strength or will to fight back. Silence filled the area now.

"Finish her." Shao Khan's voice echoed in the room. Sonya looked at the Emperor then to the defeated girl at the ground. This was a war and she was a soldier in it. And had the tables been turned she knew Kira would do the same to her. Sonya reached over and grabbed the girl's knife, holding it and pressing it at her throat. Bobby looked on in frightful anticipation.

'She won't do it, she can't.' He thought it himself. Sonya closed her eyes and in one split second it was done.

"Fatality!" And the crowd howled with enjoyment. But those who were more deeply involved did not cheer. Jax, Fox and Naruto all knew Sonya did what was right, Joseph most likely had no real opinion and Bobby didn't like it at all.

Sonya rose to her feet and wiped the knife off on Kira's body. She observed it in her hand and then as if she wasn't about to put it down decided against it and put it in her belt. Then she turned and walked back towards her group.

"Good job." Said Jax patting her on the shoulder. Sonya gave him a salute, indicating her feelings she had only done her job. She rejoined the group and stood next to Bobby who was silent.

Shao Khan turned to Kitana with a grimace on his face. His daughter's choice fighter had failed him. But Kitana's failure did bring some happiness to the room mostly to Mileena.

"You've failed me Kitana." He grumbled to her.

"Father, please it was not my intention." She noticed Kabal standing out of the corner of her eyes." The Black Dragon has failed me and dishonored you." Shao Khan now turned in his chair and looked at the last surviving members of the group, Kabal and Kobra.

Stryker now saw this as good an opportunity as any. She'd called the man in metal getup, the criminal he encountered 'Kabal'. Now he had to know if there was a connection. Before Shao Khan could speak Stryker walked into the middle of the room and spoke.

"Kabal?" He said aloud. Everyone turned and looked at him, even the man in the mechanical suite." Kabal? Is that you?" Now suddenly on the spot Kabal took a step forward and prepared to re-introduce himself.

"Yes Stryker." He answered." It's me." Joseph and Stryker jumped in shock. Here he was Kabal their old partner and friend now working with the enemy.

"How?" asked Stryker." What's happened to you?" Kabal breathed in a deep breath.

"It doesn't matter now." He hissed.

"No it does!" Stryker yelled." You were a good man, a police officer. What happened to you?!"

"I changed Stryker."

"I don't believe that." He grunted a hint of anger in his voice.

"It doesn't matter anymore."

"No Kabal. You were a good, honest man. How could you do this?!"

"A challenge?" said Shao Khan from his seat.

"No." Kabal shook his head.

"Yes." Answered Stryker. Kabal looked at his old partner in worry.

"Kombat cannot be denied. Prepare for battle!" said the Emperor. Stryker reached into his belt and pulled out his baton.

"You've committed crimes." Stryker said."And I will bring you back home to face justice." Kabal now seeing now other way pulled out his one remaining hook sword. The room went silent as the two looked each other over.

"FIGHT!" yelled Shao Khan.

Stryker attacked first and swung his baton at Kabal's head. But the Leader of the Black Dragon ducked his head under the weapon. But then Stryker jumped forward and ran into Kabal, driving his shoulder into his old friend's chest. Kabal took his hand and pushed Stryker, forcing him back. He did not want to fight, his most recent adventures taking a lot out of him both physically and mentally.

But Stryker jumped forward and swung his baton once more. This time Kabal swung up his sword and blocked. He swung the sword down, forcing the baton to go with it. Then while he had Stryker standing there he once again pushed him forcing him back. But this was not the kind of fighting the Emperor wanted his warriors to use.

"Fight him!" He roared. Now Kabal had no choice but to get rough. Stryker lunged at him once more and swung with his baton. But once again Kabal blocked with his sword. Then he punched Stryker in the face and kicked him in the stomach, sending him to the ground.

Joseph watched as both his friends and mentors battled back and forth, not knowing what to do. He felt a lot of different things with all the adrenaline in his body pumping but he was more confused than anything.

When Stryker looked back up Kabal's sword as aiming at his head.

"Stay down." He whispered." It doesn't have to be this way. Give up now." Stryker swatted the sword away from his face and jumped at Kabal.

"Never!" he yelled. Then he punched Kabal in the face, causing his mask to shake. The Stryker swung with his baton and hit Kabal on the other side of his face. His old friend stumbled back now. But Stryker did not stopped and lunged at him again.

Kabal saw the attack coming and tried to punch him but Stryker blocked. Then he tried to kick Kabal but he jumped to the side and dodged. Then Kabal kicked Stryker in the stomach, only for Stryker to reach up and upper-cut Kabal in the chin. The former police officer stumble back again. And once more his former partner lunged at him with his baton swinging. But now Kabal acted first.

He swung his sword and with one mighty swing cut Stryker's baton in two. Then swung his sword back and cut Stryker across the leg causing his former partner to fall to the ground. Stryker once again looked up and saw Kabal's sword right before his face, inches from his throat. And the silence filled the room once more.

"Finish him." Said Shao Khan. His voice sounding much more pleased then the last time he had said it. Kabal looked to the Emperor and then slowly back to his friend. Yes that's what they were friends. Ever since they began back in the Arlen Police department, quickly gravitating to each other. Stryker was very black and white with a fierce mentality from his Marine Corps days, while Kabal was more easy-going. But they shared a common interest, their total devotion and love for the law. Stryker simply for his views on criminals but Kabal's reasons were always unknown to him. It was because Kabal was once a criminal and wanted to reform. But Stryker saw something different went he looked into Kabal's eyes. He didn't see his friend he saw a convict. And although Kabal didn't want to do it if he didn't there'd be hell to pay on his part. A slight swing of his sword was all it took.

"NO!" Joseph yelled. Stryker's body fell back and slammed on the floor like a ton of bricks.

"Fatality!" yelled Shao Khan. The crowd howled once more and it was Outworld's turn to rejoice as now one of their enemies' warriors were dead. Kabal stood in the center of the room his head hung low and facing the ground.