Godly Intervention

The next morning Hank, Dale, Bill and Boomhauer stood in the alley the way they always stood in the alley. But instead of beer they had coffee in their hands.

"Yep." Said Hank.

"Yep." Said Dale.

"Yep." Said Bill.

"Hmh." Added Boomhauer.

"I heard Bobby and Joseph came home last night." Bill said turning to the father's of the two boys.

"It's true." Said Hank." He wonders in a half hour past midnight and shouts 'I'm home!' Woke me out of a very good dream."

"I woke up to hear the tv on." Began Dale." Thinking there was a burglar I brought a gun into the living room and saw Joseph sitting there watching cartoons."

"So how'd you react?"

'"What do you expect." Responded Dale." I made some popcorn and watched cartoons with him."

"And you Hank?"

"Well Peggy was excited, so was Ladybird and I was too. But Bobby can't just disappear for over a month without any notice and then just show up again. So Peggy and I thought it best of we ground him." His friends gasped.

"No!" said Bill in a melodramatic fashion.

"Yep, he's confined to his room. No tv, no video games, no soda, no visitors."

"Dang ol man tell you what boy's gotta learn man. Ain't no little boy no more now he's a big boy and soon gonna be a dang ol' man." Said Boomhauer.

"Exactly Boomhauer. I-"

"Excuse me." Said a deep voice from behind Hank. He turned around to see a tall elderly man standing behind him. He was dressed in all black cloths and his face was mostly hidden. But Hank could see he had very pale skin and yellow eyes." Is this the Hill residence?"

"Yes it is. "Hank nodded.

"And is Bobby Hill in at the moment?"

"He is but he's grounded."

"It is very important I speak with him."

"I'm sorry but he's grounded and can't have any visitors." The stranger said nothing but blinked his eyes.

"Very well." He said." Good day." He turned around and made his exit.

"Well that was weird." Said Dale. The four friends turned and looked away. But had they watched the stranger they would have seen him disappear in a cloud of smoke.

Bobby was laying down on his bed starring at the ceiling. They'd taken his tv and games the only thing he still had in his room was Kenshi's sword sitting on the wall.

Peggy was in the kitchen and didn't seem to notice when Hank walked in through the door behind her. He gave her a glance and then headed down the hall. He looked from one room until the other stopping at the first door on the left, Bobby's room.

He turned the knob and walked inside to see Bobby sitting on his bed. But the father said nothing as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

"What is it Dad?" Bobby asked.

"I am not your father." Hank answered in a voice that wasn't his own. Bobby watched in confusion as his father's form disappeared before his eyes and took the shape of someone he recognized.

"You, the Dead guy!"

"My name is Shinnok but call me what you will."

"Why are you here?"

"To see you."He walked into the room and sat across from Bobby in the vacant seat there.

"Me? Why me?" Shinnok grinned at him." Are you here to kill me?!"

"Ha!" Shinnok laughed." Far from it." He crossed his legs.

"Then what?" Shinnok paused a moment before speaking.

"You may not be aware of it but a whole month has passed in Outworld while only a day has passed here. Princess Kitana is still fighting against her sister with her lover at her side and so far it is going well for them. In several more months they may have total victory." Shinnok glanced at Bobby before continuing." Fox and Naruto have had some adventures of their own as they have gone from world to world before making it back to their own homes. It Is with Fox's help that Naruto and his people discovered industry. Ermac has changed as well joining the order realm's Seidan Guard. And himself as even found a love." He looked at Bobby once more." Things have even changed in the Netherealhm. Scorpion learned of the true killer of his family, Quan Chi and took revenge as such. He then tried to reconcile with Noob Saibot, though he didn't seem to care. The two have since departed the Netherealm leaving only me. And speaking of myself my fellow deities aren't very pleased with what I did. As punishment they've sentenced me to an eon in the Netherrealm."

"Oh." Said Bobby. "I'm, I'm sorry about that."

"I'm not." Shinnok replied. He pointed to the gold medallion on his neck. The medallion gave him the power to leave his realhm without the others Gods knowing." I think I'll be just fine."

"Then why tell me all this?" asked Bobby." What's your point?"

"All the people you've come into contact with." Shinnok said." Whether in passing or if you've had a bond with them have all changed for the better. And then there's you, you who lit a fire and desire in the belly of God. You are stuck here in the prison that is your room." Shinnok smiled at him while Bobby only grumbled." So I'll tell you what I'll do." Bobby turned his head back to Shinnok." Anything you wish I shall grant."

"Anything?" asked Bobby confused.

"Anything." Shinnok repeated." I could make you the richest man in all the world. Make you a king amongst other mortals. Or better yet a God, giving you unlimited power like my own." But Bobby just kept a blank face. Shinnok looked at him curiously before continuing." Do you want to know something?" Bobby nodded." You could not exist in the Netherrealm unless your soul was infested with evil." His eyes shined yellow and he smirked." And I see great desire and lust within your heart." He swung out his hand and a black smoke filled the space between the two and the image of Connie appeared in the smoke. And Bobby found himself attracted to the smoke as if it was a real thing. But then the Connie's face disappeared in the smoke and was replaced with Shinnok's." Go ahead, make your choice." He said to him.

Bobby looked to the ground a few moments and then looked at Shinnok.

"Anything?" He asked again.

"Anything." He nodded.

"Can you bring my friends back to life? Jax and Stryker-"

"I have already constituted my charge once before when I brought the Princess' lover back. I did it once, not twice."

"But-"

"What you ask is unthinkable." Shinnok said." Your friends have passed, let them rest. Death comes to all one way or another." Bobby looked at the ground.

"I know what I want." He finally said.

"Then say it and it shall be." Bobby took a breath and spoke his desire. And the God's eyes turned yellow and when they turned back to their normal color he spoke.

"It is done." He said.

"Thank you." Bobby said. Shinnok said nothing but rose to his feet and headed for the door." Will I see you again?"

"It's true what I said." He turned back to Bobby." Death comes in many shapes and forms. If you do not cure the darkness in your heart you will see me again in the black pits of the Netheralm. But perhaps there is still time for you." Before Bobby could say anything Shinnok disappeared into a cloud of smoke. He left right as the door opened up behind him, now it was really Hank standing there.

"Son." He addressed Bobby." I've been thinking it over and I've realized your too good a kid. One little problem's not the end of the world. C'mon outside son your not grounded anymore."