Kabal; that name sounded familiar. She left him alone for a moment as she went to a nearby store and bought some grain alcohol to try to clean the infections. all the while "Kabal..." where had she heard that word before. As she had the man naked on the hotel bed sanitizing his many decaying cybernetic components, she remembered; a story from her mother.

Sonya Blade loved to tell her little daughter storied of her adventure, about dragons, monsters, warlords, gods, etc; Cassie heard hundreds throughout her childhood. There was one story about a heroic knight- known only as Kabal.

As her mother told it, he was a knight in leather and steel, but more importantly he was an inspiration. A former member of the black dragon clan, he fled to start a new life, he went to college and joined the NYPD. But that's only the beginning of the story.

When Outword first attacked, he was hit by a single fireball, not enough to do damage but enough to knock him unconscious, (and that was the plan all along.) The evil weapons and drug kingpin Kano had connections and got Kabal's body sent to his lab where he was broken apart (in the worst way imaginable, but for the sake of this being a bedtime story those details were left out) and put back together to be a living weapon.

When Sonya met him he was more metal then human, but he still had his soul making him human enough to escape. His legs were so broken, he could move at over 200 mph (with the robotic components) but if he tried to walk, his body would collapse in pain. He wore an elaborate steel mask, to connect his external breathing mechanism (a necessity when you move at 200 mph), and to hide his disfigured face. He had extraordinary skills and talent; with his speed and his legendary hook swords, he could make surprise attacks unlike any normal human. He fought alongside her parents and the other heroes of Earthrealm until the day he disappeared. So many perished that day, his allies just assumed he was among the dead. But perhaps he was just lost.

"do you know my mother?" Cassie asked, even before the man was fully conscious.

"Your mother? What is your name, child?" he said in a weak voice. He knew, whatever name she gave would explain why she was trying so hard to save him.

"I'm Cassie Cage, my mother is Sonya Blade." she said, while drying off his body, her hand caressing the exposed muscle tissue. Not out of sexually, but simply out of a scientific need to see what was still alive on his body.

He started to laugh, first small then with a visible smile, "Your mother is Sonya Blade but your last name is Cage- as in Johnny Cage?!" He had not laughed this hard in a while, it was kind of painful- but worth it.

After a long battle with a negative optic nerve infection, brought about by a rust and decay leaking on to his eyes, Kabal had slowly gone 75-90 percent blind in both eyes; he could only see in light and shadows. Usually that was enough to make it through everyday life, but in short, he had no way to verify this girl's story, other than pure faith.

And her voice; that was Sonya's voice- in his heart he knew it was the truth."I'm sorry for my disrespect; your father is a good man. It's just..."

"..just a strange combination." Cassie added with a shrug. "I'll bet for the time you knew them he flirted like a sex crazed teenager, and you can't believe my mom ever fell for it."

"well, yes" he said, in a voice that was still weak but at least, in that moment, felt happy.

Cassie laid in the bed by his side, cuddling up next to him like they were old friends, "I was 2 when she finally agreed to marry him, and they divorced when I was 10- although to be fair that was because they were both just too different- not that he cheated on her—like certain magazines and websites "reported"." she said, she made sure to do the 'quote' motion with her fingers.

"Anyway, I want to learn from you." she added. It was then Kabal touched her face. It took her a moment to realize it was because he was blind. She had never noticed his eyes before, probably because she was more concerned with him not vomiting in to his mask. His touch felt nice. His hands had metal implants on the back (the better to punch people with) but his fingers and palms were human (so he could still use his hook swords). To feel him so close made her heart flutter.

"I have little to offer the child of two legendary warriors." he said, after all it was the truth.

"Well they had little to offer as well." She kissed his cheek, caressed her hands down his shoulders to his back. Then when she was comfortable she started to fall asleep by his side.

"I find that hard to believe." He traced his fingers over her forehead, then her cheek, down her neck; forming an image in his mind; she was so beautiful, just like her mother.

"Take me to your home; let me take care of you. When you feel strong enough we'll have a match and you can show me ... how I can improve." she was careful to choose her words. She knew he was too weak, both physically and emotionally to want to train her, but perhaps if she showed him kindness he would open up to her.

"I'm old enough to be your father." he said, as he tried to get comfortable; yes, his infected wounds were cleaned, but the pain remained the same, (if not more so.)

"so are a lot of people." she kissed his forehead, then his nose then his lips, holding the kiss longer then she should, stroking her hands down his face, down his jaw, to his shoulders. The scarring diden;t matter, she could still see the person he once was, and perhaps his beauty, strength, and humanity still remained. She made herself comfortable and fell asleep by his side.

Kabal was not an invalid, he was more the capable of living on his own, as he had for the last 20 plus years. Even with his robotic components, even with his daily struggles with pain, he didn't need someone to take care of him. But for this girl, he might make an exception. She had the kindness, and strength of Sonya with the humor and cockiness of Johnny. She remained Kabal of a 'happier' time, in a different life.