Conner, Jaqui, and Cassie were part of a team with archer Kung Jin, Takeda (who used a variation on an electric whip,) and 3 other gunners who would not last past the first mission.

In the Chaos realm the assignment was to scout out for possible insurgent strong holds. This proved difficult since everything in the chaosrealm has an unnatural need to fight- at all times. It took them 3 days to reach the capital (even though the intell given to them by Johnny Cage placed them within walking distance.)

"Havok was expecting us, right?" Shouted Jaqui.

"he' s probably laughing at us right now," Takeda said back to her. They all knew of Havok, he was more than a little bit crazy.

As they started to feel unbearably overwhelmed, the king appeared-Havok, who showed just why this place was called the chaos realm.

"there are no enemies here." he raised his hand and all fighting ceased. "Major Stryker or no, you prefer North."

"what is he talking about?" Jaqui said out loud.

"your father's name. you prefer your own." Havok added.

Conner holstered his weapon on his back and approached the skull faced man.

"I know not why the earthrealm leaders thought we would harbor neatherrealm offenders, but you have my word, my people are loyal to earthrealm."

"As long as we're loosing?" Cassie added.

"Approach me Cassie Cage." Havok said, still calmly.

Cassie did not holster her weapon, this guy diden't look scary, he was more like something out of 'Nightmare before Christmas' but she was not going to get tricked.

"Usually you would be correct, but earthrealm, humans are always in a state of chaos. And it is more then enough to keep me entertained. To prove my point I will give your leaders a little gift." he placed one hand on Conner's face and another on Cassie's, gently moving them to look in each other's eyes.

When they locked eyes they were treated to a unique vision that only they could see.

They had never so much as seen each other naked but for some reaosn this vision was vivily clear. Her perky breasts, hard pink nipples, he kissed her down her chest, licking, kissing her breasts, as she moaned. He moved his rough callused hands down her hips and thighs. He spread her legs and was about to penetrate her shaved pussy with his big thick cock.

Havok waved his hand in between their faces, breaking the illusion leaving them both gasping for air.

"You see, there is so much luscious internal conflict." Havok laughed, "tell General Blade, she has nothing to fear from the Chaos realm."

They returned to earthrealm. Conner relayed the message, and as he left General Blade's office Cassie was of course waiting. "Wanna get a drink? she shrugged.

"Sure, maybe I'll let you touch my giant gun." it sounded cleaver in his head-Cassie couldn't stop laughing.

"See you in an hour. I need to shower" she pulled him close and kissed him. He didn't resist- despite the fact kissing a subordinate in from of the office of the on base General was not a smart idea.

They went to the on base bar/restaurant to talk and get more than a little bit drunk. She learned about his love for action movies, and how much those influenced how he pushed his body to the limit. But he also read classic literature, loved museums, art, philosophy; ideas that expand the mind. He had a sketch book where he drew ideas that came to his head (and variations on things he had seen in travels), mechanical, spiritual, emotional.

"I would love to see it." she smiled. He was so amazing. She knew why Jaqui warned her against dating him; he was too smart for her. But even if she couldn't keep up, she could appreciate him.

What he learned about her? She seemed to love to smile. She wanted to follow in her parents' footsteps, to make them proud, to make the world a better place. She was not ready to tell him about Kabal.

He walked her to the apartment she shared with Jaqui. She opened the door, pulled him in and kissed him, moving her hands under his shirt.

"COUGH-COUGH" Jaqui was home. "Hello Major Stryker. Just clearing my throat." she said with a glare.

"good night." Cassie gave him a goodbye hug. When he left Cassie turned to Jaqui.

"BFF secret? Please…"

"yes, BFF secret." Jaqui groaned. She would never tattle on Cassie but she also did not want to walk in on her f-king their commanding officer.

For their next date they went to his place instead. After working out, he cooked dinner for her. She had planned on showering, but instead, over a bottle of wine she looked through his sketch books. She wore her usual work out entire; sports bra and yoga pants she put her feet op on his table and explored. There were quite a few. One looked older than the rest. "What's that?" she dropped the book and started to shiver and cry.

"what's wrong?" the image in question was a deconstructed image of Kano's laser eye.

She had never thought about Kano. But the idea of what he did to her, what he did to Kabal, made her so sick she could not stop crying.

He explained this image was based on an actual weapon that was developed as part of a never implemented armor (Kano's eye was loosely inspired by this part.)

"Start from the beginning." They sat on the sofa, with his strong arms holding her close with her head on his shoulder.

She told him everything, how she met Kabal, what she did to try to save him, what Kano did- and Tremor. What Tremor did to her was so much more traumatic; she could see his face when she closed her eyes.

She needed to make new memory; a better memory. She stopped crying and kissed Conner's cheek, then his lips. It felt so nice to kiss him. He was gentle, not like Kano or even Kabal.

He smiled at her. She sat on his lap, she could already feel him getting hard for her, and started to slip out of her tight, yoga pants kicking them to the floor. She placed his hands on her waist, then on her naked thighs.

He wanted to ask her if this was what she really wanted, but in his heart he knew this was what she needed. And the fact she was mind blowingly hot didn't hurt.

She undid his pants, moving her hands under his boxers until she found what she was looking for (which didn't take long, he had to be a good 7 inches erect.) They made love on his couch, first with her just on his lap, using his cock for her pleasure, while he kissed her neck. But by then end of an hour they were both naked, with him penetrating her deep and slow with her one of her knees over his shoulder.

"the food's getting cold" Cassie said with a laugh, after he climaxed inside her for the 4th time. She loved his body; his muscles, his scars. He was so sexy, she wanted him, needed him.

Conner was her new beginning. With his kindness and compassion, she felt strong enough to move on, to open her heart. He laughed.

I would be 2 weeks before their next mission, they spent time working out and just hanging out. He made her genuinely happy.

Their next mission was to the order realm which was much worse than the chaos realm. They had their team plus 5 new gunners. But this time their "king" didn't appear until there was a substantial amount of casualties (nearly 10 days after their arrival.).