Cassie boarded a Virgin Airlines flight to San Francisco. A military flight would be faster, as she would get priority but she needed the time to think.

When she arrived Kabal was asleep or unconscious, his face was exposed, and his mask was by the bed. Kira allowed her to be alone with him -that was what he requested. Cassie pulled up a chair she held his hand, she had no idea what to say, "I'm here."

His chest was still moving, his breath was still so beautiful. She kissed his lips, neck, and chest; stroking her hands down his still impressive body.

His hand caressed her's, holding the kiss, but then he stopped her."Kabal?"

"Tell me about him" he said touching her wedding ring. Although he would love to have his last moments on earth to be spent making love to her, she had someone else, someone she took vows to love and honor.

"He reminds me of you; brilliant, kind, an amazing fighter- well he was anyway." She knew Kabal was blind without his mask, but part of her was happy he could remember her as she was.

"Why?" he asked, moving his hand to her neck, face.

"A little over 9 years ago, he finished what you started, he killed Tremor, but according to witnesses Tremor's body released a toxin that crippled his lungs. Once he was stabilized, he was ok just on oxygen, still a valuable member of earthrealm's forces…" the story was long and painful.

Conner remained on base advising in other departments. He had to use a wheel chair, (since his body would be nowhere near strong enough to handle his arm and leg, they had to go.) He was sick and crippled, but his mind was still sharp.

He went on to work as a personal assistant of sorts to Johnny Cage (who never really forgave himself for Conner's condition.) He was able to assist with intell recovery/decryption, strategy, and weapons/armor design. The design assignments were what kept his spirit going.

Then he came down with the flu that turned to pneumonia. Now the only thing he had to live for was Cassie's unconditional love. The day he uttered those words, Cassie went to the roof and screamed at the top of her lungs. It should have been her on that mission- she should have been the one to kill Tremor! And if she died then at least she would be spare the pain of watching Conner suffer.

"Don't give in to pain," Kabal said, holding her hand, "it can make you do things you will regret."( Like choosing to forget her. )

They would not have sex, but she felt the need to be close to him. She found a way to lay in the bed with him, holding him. She could feel his breath on her cheek. She held his hand, squeezing every few minutes, just to feel him squeeze back.

Cassie fell asleep in his embrace, so she didn't hear his last words, as he stroked her face "I'm so happy you came, I always knew your face would be the memory I'd take with me in to the next life." His organs were failing, he felt weak and scared, but to have her with him, allowed him happiness."I never stopped loving you."

Cassie awoke the next morning to find he had died in her arms. Kira helped her out of the bed, as she was too shaken to even stand.

"What are you going to do with him?" Cassie asked as the body was removed. Would there be a grave? A place where she could go to remind herself of the person he was; what he meant to her.

"I'll let you know in a few days, go home to your husband." Kira said, but she already knew. Kabal told her and Kobra his wishes; it involved a letter to General Blade that he wrote when he found out he was dying.

Kira boarded a plane to the General Blade's base. But not just any plane, it was a military transport plane to transport her and her 'cargo.' She took Anya with her, because Kobra was too busy running their hospital to care for a toddler on his own. When they landed, Sonya's men took custody of the 'cargo'. "Where can I find Cassie?" she shouted as they left.

"I'd check the hospital, she's there pretty much all the time!" the solider shouted back.

"Thanks, I'll go there!" She said still holding her sleeping toddler. She walked with Anya until she found the building. The solider was right, Cassie would not be hard to find.

"Cassie?" she pulled up a chair with her still sleeping daughter.

"kira?" Cassie was at the bed side of a tall blonde man missing two limbs.

"Your husband?" Kira asked, while looking around.

"yeah. Conner, he contracted something in the dream realm, he was stable for a long time, then one day he just got sicker and sicker." that was the short version.

Kira looked at the patient chart; his name caught her eye "his last name is Stryker?" It was not a common last name so she took a shot in the dark, "Is he related to Kurtis Stryker..."

"Kabal's former partner," Cassie smiled and nodded. She had actually never realized that, "Kurtis Stryker was his father."

"Wow destiny. Anyway, this is Anya. I couldn't find a baby sitter."Kira said as her daughter started to wake up.

"so, do you just have a fetish for guys with weak lungs…" that was a really awkwardly timed joke.

"mama? what is fet-ish?" Anya squeaked.

That actually did make Cassie laugh.

"There's a reason I'm here; I donated Kabal's body- equipment and all, to the base research facility." that was the cargo. He was going to a lab for dissection and analysis.

"what? why?" Cassie finally got a good look at Anya she looked like a mini version of her mother but with Kobra's blue eyes. Kira was changed, being a mother made her the person she was meant to be.

Cassie brought the little girl a pen and paper to draw while Kira continued with her explanation.

"Everything that kept him alive was black dragon and outworld technology, but if it can be reverse engineered it can save hundreds or thousands of soldiers- like Conner. It was his last wish, to assist earthrealm forces again." Kira was getting emotional, she did love him like a father. "and to know his donation could save the life of his best friend's son, that would have meant so much to him."

"Will you be staying?" Cassie asked while looking at Anya's drawings of flowers.

"Just until Kobra performs the surgery." Kira said.

"what surgery?" Cassie was confused.

"Your mom didn't tell you? Conner's getting Kabal's armor- in 3 days." Kira was not sure how to gauge Cassie's reaction.

Meanwhile-

Sonya looked over the armor recovered from Kabal's body. There was only one person who could backward engineer such strange tech- and that person was Conner. When she received Kabal's letter she quickly made the decision (that upon delivery of the body) to have her team document everything; photos, 3d scans, written descriptions. But could not take anything apart (since likely they would not be able to put it back together.)Conner would receive the armor, and medical enhancements, then lead a team to study it based on the data and how it's reacts to his own body.

Kobra was flown in to perform the surgery. It took 8 agonizing hours. But when it was all over, Conner was finally able to walk for the first time in 9 years.