Chapter 5: Konquest

Zhengzhou City Henan Province, China: 4 days later

A small jeep zigzagged down the worn dirt road, lush trees and undergrowth blurring past at nerve racking speed. In the back seat, Kobra and Johnny Cage clung to the jeeps support handles for dear life, every bump jostling them back and fourth.

"Hey buddy! How much further!?" Cage shouted over the rushing winds and crackling underbrush. "Just a little longer my friend!" The driver replied. "Hang on to your sunglasses!!"

Kobra's stomach nearly turned upside down as the jeep left the ground, suspended in mid-air for what felt like minutes before crashing back to the earth with a deafening racket.

"Damn it!" Cage cried. "I'm going to talk to my people, and before you know it, this will all be a nice long expressway!" Cage had luckily eschewed his suit for a turquoise Polo shirt and slacks, saving him from the stifling heat. They continued down the road, and Kobra wondered why the Wu Shi Academy that Cage told him about was so secluded.

The Academy, nestled deep within the wilderness of China, served as the training ground for the Earthrealm warriors under the strict guidance of Master Bo Rai Cho and one of the Academies most acclaimed alumni, Kung Lao.

Kobra was snapped out of his musings as he saw the tips of several pagodas jutting towards the sun bathed sky beyond the trees. The road began to become smoother and before long they had reached the main gates of the Wu Shi Academy.

"Man, I tell you this place is absolutely beautiful." Cage said as the driver crawled to the wooden gates. Two stone faced monks briskly opened the gates, allowing the jeep to continue.

Cage was right; the grounds of the Wu Shi Academy were absolutely beautiful. The architecture appeared to be trapped in time, with the numerous buildings all reminiscent of ancient Chinese gardens, enclosures, and sweeping courtyards. Monks clad in yellow and orange garments peacefully strolled about the grounds, their eyes never setting on Cage and Kobra as they climbed out of the jeep.

Kobra stretched his aching limbs, relieved to finally be able to stand again. Cage led Kobra to the main building of the Wu Shi Academy.

"Master Cho is inside." He said, sliding open the highly decorative doors. The inside proved to be just as extravagant as the exterior. Lavish crimson and gold trimmed carpet adorned the floor, along with matching colored streamers cascading from the roof.

Kobra was taken aback by the sheer luxuries present inside of the Wu Shi Academy, so much that he began to wonder just what type of man Master Bo Rai Cho really was. Suddenly, Kobra felt very inadequate in his Shorin Ryu gi top and blue jeans.

They came to a dining hall with precious earthenware covering the rooms long wooden table. A man sat hunched over the end of the table, a large mug in his hand. He was a heavy set man, and unlike the colorful monks that perused the courtyards this man wore drab brown garments. As they neared him Kobra noticed his face was a slack mask of fatigue behind his bushy facial hair, black strands of hair falling over his bloodshot eyes; the man was drunk.

"Master Cho!" Cage said exuberantly, surprising Kobra beyond belief. "It's me, Johnny!"

Master Cho simply grunted in response, his eyes never leaving the half empty mug in front of him.

"That's Master Cho!?" Kobra asked incredulously, not hiding his shock at the unexpected sight.

"Never judge a book by its cover. Master Cho has been training Earthrealm warriors for decades and is a highly decorated martial artist...." Master Cho raised his heavy head and stared Kobra in his eyes. His mouth opened, a clamorous belch escaping from the pit of his stomach and into the air.

"...Who just happens to be a little wasted at the moment." Cage finished, dejected. "C,mon, maybe we'll have more luck with Kung Lao." Kobra took one last look st the drunkard Bo Rai Cho, who had gone on to smiling at absolutely nothing, before following Cage out of the dining hall.

"What the hell was that?" Kobra asked, not fully convinced that the drunk slouch he had just seen was responsible for safe guarding all of humanity.

"You ever seen the Legend of Drunken Master?"

"Of course, it's a classic."

"There's your answer. Get some liquor in him and he's Wong Fei Hung through and through."

They made their way to a large courtyard behind the main building. Waves of crisp green bamboo trees flanked the border of the courtyard, along with dozens of intimidating warrior statues. What caught Kobra's eye, however, was the large stylized dragon symbol emblazoned in the center of the courtyard. Two men were sparring around the design. One of the men, a monk wearing a wide brimmed hat with what appeared to be a razor around its perimeter, moved with swift poetic ease, while the other man, a young darker skinned monk, trudged along slowly under the glaring sun.

Oh, Master Cho was a drunk, I bet these guys are Meth heads. Kobra thought smugly.

"Kung Lao!" Cage cried, extending his arms towards the hat wearing monk. Kung Lao removed his hat and wiped his sweaty face.

"Johnny, it's been too long." He said, embracing Cage. "How have you been?"

"Y'know, same old; acting, martial arts, trying to collect fighters to help stop a certain psychopathic emperor from conquering all of earth, which brings me to my friend here..."

Kung Lao studied Kobra, his flushed face furrowing into an intrigued smile. "Kai, take a breather." He said, motioning towards the darker skinned monk.

"But we were just getting warmed up!" Kai insisted, his breaths coming out in wide gulps.

"Really? With the way you were treading along it seemed like we were sparring for forty days and nights. Please, this in very important."

Kai shot Kobra a look of pure disdain before silently skulking away.

"Never mind him...Kai is still so young." Kung Lao said. The Shaolin Monk studied Kobra intensely. "Ah, so you are the..."

...the punch came so fast that Kobra barely had time to react. He flinched at the last moment, just as Kung Lao was retracting his heavily calloused fist. "His reflexes are a little iffy." He said.

Kung Lao struck again, but this time Kobra was ready to counter the telegraphed punch...and was met with a sudden low kick straight to his shin. "Damn!" Kobra backed away, flexing his sore muscle.

"Yep, reflexes are definitely a little iffy."

"What are you trying to prove man?" Kobra asked, annoyed.

"What I am trying to prove is...if I am given a empty cup, I will fill that vessel with knowledge up to its rim..."

Kobra thought about what he was saying, never really understanding the metaphorical nature of martial arts in the first place.

"I'm not an 'empty cup'. I've been doing martial arts for years!"

"If you are to succeed, you must approach this with a clear head, your mind as pure as an infants that has just seen his first day."

Cage nodded, a quizzical expression on his face. Kobra could not deny the air of mystique that emanated from Kung Lao. He reminded him of Bruce Lee, poetic in his words and movements.

"Alright, alright...I'll be your empty cup." Kobra conceded.

"Excellent! Training begins tomorrow morning." Kung Lao tossed his hat towards the row of warrior statues. To Kobra's surprise, it glided seamlessly through the air, a trail of blue light forming a tail on the bladed head wear.

SWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

The hat cut flawlessly through one of the statues solid necks, causing its head to topple to the ground.

"Brace yourself!" Cage cried as the hat made an impossible U turn in flight. It spiraled wildly towards the trio, nearly reaching them...

...before Kung Lao leaped towards the hat, plucking it out of the sky with ease. He landed gracefully on his feet and placed the hat back on his head, its bladed circumference brightly gleaming under the sun.

"I'll fill you up nice and good my little cup...."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Authors Note: Time for Boot Kamp.