The storm had started several seconds ago. It was when Kabal exited the cell the first clap of thunder was heard. Stryker and Kenshi were near the coffee machine. They both looked out the window to observe the downpour. Puddles quickly built up, with the rain falling into those puddles evident from the roof tops. They heard the rain battering the outside walls. Water was beginning to leak through the ceiling, possibly due to poor construction. A droplet of water fell into Stryker's mug. He looked down at the soiled drink and stated, "I hate this place."

Kenshi took a sip from his glass of water. He turned his head towards Stryker and commented, "You've been saying that since I got here, you realize that? You need something else to complain about." Stryker glared at Kenshi. "Don't give me that look."

"What look?"

"That look." Kenshi pointed towards the general direction of his friend's face.

"How do you even know what look I'm making?"

Kenshi shrugged. "Magic," he replied like it was the most obvious thing anyone could think of.

Stryker crossed his arms and leaned back, his coffee temporarily forgotten. "And what look, pray tell, would I be giving you at this very moment in time?"

"The look you get when I'm condescending towards your attitude," Kenshi replied, again, like it was more obvious than anything else in the world. He finished off his water, before pausing for a moment. He asked, "So, are we really going to shoot up Rain's tower?"

Stryker's expression began. He leaned forward in his chair, a frown appearing on his face. "Kabal's right."

Kenshi asked, "Right about what?"

"The plan," Stryker sighed. He looked out through the window and pondered, "There is a slim chance we're getting out of this alive, Kenshi."

"Kurtis, we'll make it."

"But how do you know that Kenshi?"

"Well, I have a feeling you and I will have a few more adventures outside of this," the swordsman replied, a smile creeping up on his face. "Plus, I don't know, I just have faith in our abilities to not die." Turning his head towards the doorway, he added, "Kabal's coming."

Stryker raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth to say something, but another person interrupted him. "That's a little creepy, Blind Al," Kabal mocked, sliding a knife into a holster.

"Who?"

"Never mind," Kabal replied. He crossed his arms in front of the two cops. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation, mainly because I was eavesdropping."

"You were eavesdropping?"

"Yeah." The vigilante shrugged. "Don't know why it's so hard for you to accept as reality." He then walked over to the coffee pot, pouring himself a cup. "So," he asked Kenshi, "Do you honestly believe that we'll make it through this plan of his?" He aimed the last comment towards Stryker, who crossed his arms in annoyance.

"I do." Kenshi got to his feet. "But maybe we could do with a few more revisions."

"Ain't that the truth?"

Stryker shrugged. "You're right. I think my mind wasn't in the right place when I thought of that plan." He finished his coffee. "But we'll need to do it soon, since Jax is expecting to move out any minute now, and I don't want to disappoint."

Nursing his coffee, Kabal sighed wearily. "We'll still need both a distraction and a way to get inside that building." He looked up at Kenshi and, more specifically, his sword. "You two are going to be the distractions."

"Thanks," Stryker grumbled under his breath. Grinning to himself, Kenshi continued to listen to the vigilante's proposal.

"However," Kabal affirmed, "… you two are not going to be going there guns blazing. You're going to go into the building cross from Rain's tower, taking a Sniper Rifle with you, and taking out the guards, drawing the other's attentions." He set the coffee down, the steam rising up into the air. "At that point, the Captain and I will sneak through whatever back entrance there is, avoiding any and all guards that are left."

Kenshi raised an eyebrow and asked, "And then, when you two find Gor Roh and Rain, you'll bring them back to the station?"

"I doubt it's going to be that simple," Stryker commented to Kenshi. He then turned his attention towards Kabal. "And how do we know they'll even be in there once we get to the tower?"

The masked vigilante shook his head, admitting, "We really don't." After rubbing the hair pooling out from the top of his mask, he added, "We're really just making a whole lot of assumptions right about now." Kabal shook his head. "And so, that's the plan."

"What you're saying is," the swordsman began, "that all we're doing is changing what Kurtis and I are doing?"

Kabal shrugged. "Basically."

Looking towards his friend for confirmation, and gaining it through a nod, Kenshi replied, "Alright, let's do it." As Kabal started to leave, Kenshi added, "But there is a slight problem."

"And?"

"How am I supposed to use the gun?"

Kabal opened his mouth to reply, but found that he could not. Instead, he said, "We'll figure that out when we get there." He then quickly exited the room.

Stryker looked back at Kenshi and asked, "Where did we find this guy again?"

"On a rooftop," was the swordsman reply. "Alright, let's go tell Jax of the change of plan."

Stryker groaned, but followed his friend out of the room nonetheless.

Rain rolled the coin he held between his fingers. He was staring out the window at the pouring rain, listening to the light tapping on the roof of the car. Seated across from his in the limousine was the agent Anarky had sent over, he told them to go down for blocks, turn left, then go straight until he said otherwise. Everything seemed to be going well, for the most part.

As soon as he laid his eyes on Anarky, he would pull the gun that was sitting in his hidden coat pocket, and shoot him square in the head. Sure, the plan wasn't full proof in the slightest, but it was better than nothing. After all this guy had inflicted upon the crime lord and his empire, the masked madman deserved far worse than a simple gunshot to the head. But, at this stage, beggars could not be choosers. Rain was desperate, and so, he needed to be quick about this. No more messing around. Anarky needed to die.

But he needed to be patient. He couldn't just let the agent know of what Rain and his men were going to do once they got to the hideout Anarky had made for himself. There was the potential that Anarky had a listening device implanted onto this guy that Rain failed to notice. It would prove to be unsurprising, as no one did a thorough body search on this guy.

Finally, the silence was broken by the Anarky agent. "You're being awfully quiet." Without getting a reply, the agent continued. "You know, Anarky simply wants to save this city."

When Rain finally responded, he said, "By killing me and toppling my empire. The empire which, by the way, took over a decade to set the foundation, and then another two decades to finish." He let out a bitter chuckle. "And he thinks I'm just going to let him destroy it in just over two weeks? Well, he can go kiss my ass."

An amused chuckled escape the agent's lips. "That's the kind of attitude that got you into trouble with the wrong people. Like my leader, for example. You're corrupt ways do not appear on my personal radar, but Anarky despises what you have done to this city, and he merely wishes to open your eyes to the pain and misery you have bestowed upon the good people of Deacon City."

"I don't have to explain my actions to you or anyone else," Rain affirmed. "Now, just shut the hell up and take me to visit your boss."

"If you insist," the agent replied. For the rest of the car ride, neither spoke a word.

Across town, near Rain's tower, a car pulled to a stop. It was a standard DCPD car, with a siren attached to the top. It was inactive, as that would draw far too much attention. Stopping by the curb and creating a splash from a nearby puddle, four men climbed out of it, each with an armament on them. Jackson Briggs carried an assault rifle slung over the shoulder and a pistol at his side. Kabal was toting his twin hook blades. Kenshi had his katana and a sniper rifle slung over his back. Stryker was carrying his rifle, with an automatic slung onto his back. On both hips were a pair of pistols, both fully loaded.

On Kenshi and Stryker's rifles were silencers, as to conceal their location in the buildings better. Jax turned to face the crew and called out, "Alright, we have no idea if or when that bomb is going off, so we have to grab the Commissioner and get out of there as soon as possible, understand?" When everyone nodded, he asked Kenshi and Stryker, "Are you two confident with your parts of the plan?"

"Not that we aren't glad you care about us, Cap," Stryker replied, stepping closer to his superior officer, "But me and Kenshi are big kids. We can handle ourselves." Kenshi nodded in agreement.

"Alright, then let's get moving."

"Yes, sir," both Kenshi and Stryker stated at the same time, running off to their left through an alley. Jax and Kabal ran forward, their feet hitting the ground with force.

The rain began fogging up the lenses on Kabal's mask, but it was of little concern. He just needed to stay focused on Jax's position and followed him. Sight was not important at this moment, as demonstrated by the blind swordsman's ability to kick serious amounts of ass while wearing the blindfold. The vigilante's hair soon turned into a wet mop, as it began to go lose its pulled back style. His hair fell just short of his shoulders.

Jax, on the other hand, did not have to worry about fogging up lenses or loose hair. He only had to focus on getting to Rain's tower, sneaking in, and taking down the crime lord and his own boss. There was no telling how long they had until the building blew, so every second counted. Not that he would shed any tears if either of them died. He simply had a duty towards protecting lives, no matter how vile they may be.

As soon as they got to the outside door, Jax raised a communicator and spoke. "We're here."

"Roger that, Niner-Niner," Stryker's voice replied over the comm, barely hiding a chuckle. "Me and Ronin are in the building. I repeat, me and Ronin are in the building."

"Give me that!" Kenshi's voice came through. "We're in position as well, Captain."

It was Kabal's turn to speak. "How many are you counting?"

"I'm sensing five people in the lobby, and Stryker said he can see about fifteen more next to the windows," the swordsman replied. After a brief silence, his voice returned. "Do you want us to fire?"

"Whenever you're ready," Jax replied, raising his gun to aim at the door knob.

"Firing…" Stryker trailed off. "Now."

As soon as the word was said, Jax blasted the door. The two kicked it down, checking for any enemies. They both heard Stryker shout, "Remember to aim for the knees, Kenshi!" Kabal swore he could hear someone scream in pain. Oh, how he loved it when his enemies made that sound. Almost as much as when they whimpered in mortal terror.

Jax went to climb the stairs, but a few doors opening cause the officer and vigilante to freeze. Two guards ran out, climbing down the steps at alarming speed. Jax fired off two shots, both connecting with the guard's kneecaps. They tumbled down the stairs with surprised and pained shouts. Kabal and Jax stepped over the withering bodies, knocking them each unconscious. Jax looked towards Kabal and asked, "Ready to do this?"

The vigilante shrugged. "About as ready as I'll ever be."

"Good." Jax pulled the hammer back on his gun. "Keep up that kind of thinking." They looked up to see the seemingly endless flights of stairs. "You're going to need it."

A/N: After iceagnelmkx offered up Mark Hamill as a potential voice for Anarky, I can't help but think of someone for Kabal. And no, it is not David Lodge, the guy who voiced him in MK9.

I think of Keith David. The guy who voiced Goliath in Gargoyles. Make of that what you will.

Also, Avengers: Age of Ultron is amazing. WATCH IT.

Spino, out.