ooc: ((i have not been feeling well for the past 6 months, so i decided to channel some of that in to a new chapter.

thank you to everyone who inspired me to write again.))

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Chapter 4

Kira , annoying out of her mind, wondered- was she the only one; the only one to be tested in such a way? As it turns out; yes. But Kobra was from inner city New York (or so he says) and he was a black belt in something or other, so according to Kabal he was an equal, not just a challenge for her to overcome.

Their first assignment as a team was to execute an attack on the Red Dragon headquarters where there was Intel of human experimentation. Kira has been in the Red Dragon headquarters before; while training with Kabal. Even though rooms were always moved around and the most important areas were connected with teleportation portals she knew where they would hide something of importance. As expected Kobra didn t believe her.

After setting off god knows how many alarms she decided to ditch the hot head and go off to where she could actually accomplish something.
'dumb$$' she said to herself as she easily navigated her way to where she knew she could find science related items. Usually there was info on drugs or more efficient weapons, or even the science behind the strengths and weaknesses of certain mythological creatures (such as the Dragon King, or Mooloch,) and today was no exception. She could not find anything that could remotely be defined as human experimentation.

"you are really a bitch." Kobra said when he finally located her. "I didn't ask you to fight every guard in the main corridor." she said as she opened the next portal- there was one more place she could look, "what? come on."
"What makes you think that's the way?" he said, catching his breath.
"don't know, don't care." she said, she was not going to waste her time with explaining anything to him. As she located the prison ward the thought went though her head 'if she gets him killed would she be in trouble with Kabal?'-- no of course not. That would be stupid.
But in the prison ward she found the evidence of human experimentation she was looking for. If she had been around for past few years she might have recognized some of the (seemingly lifeless) subjects as black dragon members who apparently sucked at their jobs. (Any black dragon member incompetent enough to get captured did not deserve sympathy.)

These bodies had scales, like a human-dragon hybrids. 'how unusual...' but whatever. She made sure to slit the throats of all 12 bodies just to make sure what they wouldn t spring up on her as she left. She took whatever data was available and made her exit. Her only regret was not having a camera- oh wait!

She took her trusty knife and cut off the head of one of the bodies, making sure to pick one with allot of the mutation visibly present. 'Wow that's allot of blood.' The thick, tar-like substance coated her hand, then formed spikes, then melted away. Odd.
She used her remote control to call back the unmanned helicopter that arrived with surreal stealth to take her home. When she exited she immediately knew to stab behind her, then do a large slashing motion.

"you really suck." she smiled. Korba fell to his knees. With awesome instinct she managed to slash both his thighs down to the bone, hopefully hitting an artery. "Kabal!" she skipped down the hallway to her teacher so show him what she has found.
"Your pride will be your downfall," Kabal said, but even he could not say it with a straight face; she skills were light years better than Kobra s. Kabal looked at the bloody head, he knew who it was but what was not important. "did you face any enemies like this?" "no, because you asked me to get scientific Intel." she said as she cleaned her knife, "The california blonde is the one you should ask, about random foot soldiers".
But it was clear what he meant; the Red Dragon clan was planning something big with an army of dragon soldiers. And Kabal, as the temporary black dragon leader did not have a clue as of how or why.

It was not in Kira s personality to pry further so she went off to bed. This was Kira's first day sleeping in what used to be her old bed, but of course Kobra was already there. "Give me my bed or I'll cut your throat."
"I'll take my chances." he was already on the bed and seemingly naked; eww.
Kira went back outside, she wasn t tired anyway. (And she would need Kobra asleep in order to make his death easier.) She sat down against the wall looking down at her knife.

"That was once your father's?" Kabal sat down next to her. "no, it just kind of looks like his." She wished she could see emotion through his mask, Kabal was the only person she ever really considered a friend. "you are so much like him."

"Thanks, I guess. So then you won't mind when I carve Kobra's guts out and paint my room with his blood?" she gigigled.
"You are needed for much more important things." Kabal was ready to explain his plan. "Your father is missing. I thought, as many would, that your mother was behind it but the reality is far more critical then i would have thought." he said.
"critical?" Kira knew this could not end well.

"As of late the focus of our organization has been on allying ourselves with Outworld factons that could bring us closer to domination within our own realm. But..." he paused because this was a little embarrassing, "We have been less then successful when it comes to proving our selves as useful allies? I figured as much. Is that why you invited me back?" she asked.
"Ever since you were a child it has been your destiny to take on all opponents, and defeat them with wisdom courage and strength. I could never ask this of just any solider." his tone said it all; he already knew the answer.

"where do you think he is?"
"After his latest defeat at the hands of your mother, he was taken by Motaro's clan and offered as a prisoner to Shao Kahn. But I believe he was turned over to Mavado...."
"Madavo" the name sent shivers down her spine, he was a shadow, a legend, a warloard, a genuius, or so she has heard. Yes he was known as the leader of the Red Dragon but his reputation stretched much further. And he did not work out of the usual headquarters; he had bases of operation all over the world.

"What should I do?" Kira could do pretty much anything, but she needed to be pointed in the right direction.
"Go back to your mother. but take Kobra with you. If necessary let him lead; allow him to gain her trust to gain access to their resources." Kira did not like the idea of taking Kobra with her, again, (why can t she just kill him?!!) but Kabal had a point; Sonya would be more inclined to trust a new face (especially after their last encounter.)

we will leave first thing in the morning. She said. Kabal agreed. She went back to her room and slept on the floor.