Stryker and Johnny Cage
He looked worriedly down at his phone. It had been some time since it had gone off. Yet it had been even longer since he had sent his last message.
He received no response.
Stryker let out a defeated sigh. Thankfully he found a quiet spot at the precinct to vent his frustrations. A nice little spot where he could be alone for a few moments.
It has gotten pretty busy here lately. On top of all the regular mayhem they had to deal with, bank robberies, hostages, grand theft autos, and the like it seems more and more freaks were showing up to cause trouble. Not the regular kind from Outworld or anything like that, but they were just as bad. And once he was contacted by Nightwolf of what was really going on, well he knew Raiden and the others would have their hands full. He wanted to help them with everything in his heart, but he was the best cop here. What would happen if he left suddenly? The city was in shambles already. And he was the front line of defense.
If he could only convince his boss he had to leave to follow clues to his insider, he could kill two birds with one stone. Help Raiden fight these guys back and finish this case, his biggest case once and for all.
There was just one problem.
It was right about that time when he was investigating a case, the biggest of his career that all of these new warriors and invaders appeared. As for his case, well, he had a man on the inside, but sadly once all this happened and work piled up, he had a harder time keeping in contact with him. Worse still, recently he had no contact at all.
He checked his phone again, though it was only a few minutes since he last looked, and it still hadn't gone off in his hand. Still no reply or even acknowledgment of his last message.
'Where will the shipments be?' he read his last message again. Wondering not only where they would be, but where his informant- his friend was in all of this.
Then nothing. Stryker closed the phone and dropped his head into his hands.
A high pitched whine was let out beneath him, piercing high into his ears. Picking his head up but looking down he saw the wide brown eyes of his service dog looking up to him. Another concerned whine came from it.
"You miss him too huh?" he said as he raised a hand to pet the dog on his ears elating his fears somewhat but not his own. The dog's sadness subsided somewhat by his touch "But what are we to do huh?" he asked as he scratched the dog behind his ear as it rolled into his hand so he could dig deeper and scratch "They won't even let me take a vacation; how do you think they'll let me leave now with all of this going on in the city?" Mad Gear Gang? Shadaloo? Neo- Shadaloo? Outworld invaders. Brotherhood of Shadow. It was no one's picnic. Sensing his distress, the dog leaned forward from under his hand and licked his face. Stryker chuckled a bit and then looked at the dog. A thought seemed to pass from canine to human at that moment and Stryker voice it "Oh hell!" he let out "What's the worst they could say 'no'!"
He got up from his seat to the happy barking of his dog and marched right into the Chiefs office telling him of a case he had to follow. His contact had gone missing, and he had to go find him to blow this thing wide open.
Surprisingly the answer was 'Yes.'
Surprised he marched back out of the office took a deep breath and then looked down to the dog.
"Well, that went well huh?" the dog barked loudly in agreement. "Well," he said positioning his cap on his head "let's go get him." he said as he walked off. He stopped by passing his desk where he saw placed upon the top a picture. He was on one side, the dog in the middle and a man on the other. Their arms around the other. Stryker let out a deep heavy sigh. That picture was taken some years ago and the man on the other side looked far different now. He was his first partner, his informant... and his best friend.
A nudge from his arm and a wet tongue brought his attention back down to the dog.
"I know." he admitted "We can't wait any longer. Let's go!" he announced again, and the dog yipped beneath him but then suddenly it flared up in anger. It began to snarl showing its teeth, its ears shot up like horns on a hellhound and its eyes focused on the door behind them instead of the one ahead. "Huh?" Stryker let out. He knew for a fact his dog didn't like strangers, so it only made sense for him to act this way. But what set him off? It was either the loud obnoxious voice, the bright flashy clothes that hurt his colorblind eyes or the thick smell of overpriced but still shitty cologne.
For Stryker it was all of the above.
"Oh god no." he sighed hanging his head.
"Heeeyyy Buddy!" the obnoxious voice called. Turning around to face the same way as his dog, Stryker was greeted by none other than the actor turned Earthrealm champion Johnny Cage. And if you forgot his name it was tattooed on his chest for you remember.
"What are you doing here?" Stryker asked.
"Oh no smiles for you buddy? When I've got one for my biggest fan." he said chipperly as Stryker starred at him with a deadpan stare "At least he's happy to see me." Johnny waved a hand down at the dog, but because he kept his eyes on Stryker, he didn't see the dog try to take a bite out of his hand.
"Well, he doesn't like strangers."
"Good thing I'm not one." Johnny grinned, happy to see him, though the feeling wasn't mutual.
"What do you want?"
Johnny cocked his head to him, as if the answer wasn't obvious "I'm here for you buddy." Stryker was so caught off guard by that, that he didn't correct him about calling him buddy again.
"-What?" he let out flatly.
"You seem like you're up to date on things?" Johnny continued "I'm sure you know what's going on in the whole world let alone this city."
"Yeah." Stryker nodded "Nightwolf told me. And I want to help." he paused to look at him curiously "Why aren't you?"
"That's just the thing." Johnny snapped his fingers " I want too, too. Thing is everyone splintered off into pairs with what's been going on"
"Makes sense." Forced by necessity or otherwise there was too much going on for one person to do alone.
"Well, since my lovely leading lady is running the Special Forces base and Precious Little lady is out saving the world again it leaves daddy out to do his own thing. But what dad would I be if I wasn't there to help my girls out?"
"Not a good one I would imagine." Stryker said, at least agreeing with Johnnys sentiment, understanding where he was coming from but not where it was leading him. Why would he come here?
"Exactly, what I was thinking!" Johnny said "So here I figure I can do my part like everyone else." he continued, though his voice changed to become more self-centered "And I got this crossover coming up with Fei Long and he's preparing for his role in the same way. And there's no way I'm gonna be outdone by that B-movie actor."
Despite his over enthusiasm Stryker's face remained deadpan the entire time, the only countdown going on in his head was how long he would retain it before he shot Johnny down.
It wasn't a long count.
"Look Mr. Cage."
"Please," he put his hands up "Johnny to my fans and friends." he waved them back down.
"Like I said Mr. Cage." Stryker said again stressing the point to make sure Johnny understood it. He thought he would have learned his lesson from him not allowing Johnny to portray him in a movie. It seems he was wrong "I have other things to go on. We got a mole on the inside of an operation. And ever since all of this" he waved his arms started "we've lost him. I got to find him."
"Must be pretty important guy."
"He is." Stryker said, his voice softening "But more importantly e's my friend."
"Then what are we waiting for!" Johnny said as he lightly punched him in the arm "Let's go get him."
"We? I just asked for clearance."
"And it sounds like you got it." he said knowingly "And if I know you like I think you do, you'll be helping out Raiden every step of the way."
"That's right." Stryker admitted. There were others he had to help too.
"Well then we're in the same boat. You can't go it alone, and I won't let you, so we'll go together. Everyone else is doing it." he tapped his shoulder "So we will too, it'll be like a double billing." Despite his assurances Stryker wasn't buying it.
"I'm not sure-"
"Come on, it'll be fun! Like a ride along. Heeyy" he dragged out the word "That'll make a pretty good movie. Based on a true story." he read the tagline aloud having seen the poster in his head.
"Well," Stryker smirked "you're out of luck then because I already have a partner."
"Huh?" Johnny let out "Who is it?" he peered in curiously "Li Mei?" he guessed and let out a purr "You sly dog you."
"Well," Stryker chuckled finally amused by something he said "you did say dog."
Confused now Johnny looked down and saw through his thick tinted shades the dog still snarling at him.
"Alright then," he conceded "it's three then... he's uh.. got his shots, right?"
Lucia and Hagger
"HHEEAA" she let out a mighty punch and the mugger was sent back colliding into the brick wall and falling off of it with a bloody nose "That'll teach ya!" she cried. But as she did, she heard another cry come from down the street, a thin hissing wail. Turning on her heels she raced back down the alleyway and out into the open streets of Metro City.
Things had certainly gotten worse around here. Fires burning, overturned cars and destroyed buildings. And the littering? Yeesh
Sure, all of those things were the usual sight for this city, but they had become more severe. It all started when these weird portals started opening up. Oh, the usual trouble makers made trouble as they always do. But more people started to show up, ones that weren't from the city and they weren't tourists either. People were one thing, but it wasn't just them, but monsters too. It was tough for anyone to handle, but Lucia knew she would be the one to handle it. And she knew Cody was in the streets fighting just like she had. Though Lucia didn't appreciate who he fought with. But seeing him like that, it made her think of the last mayor who did just that; the one who inspired Cody to do it too. Lucia knew if they were all fighting, she would be too.
She heard another cry let out, this time echoing out into the streets from around the corner. But she was able to make out what it said.
"Pile driver!" it declared. Not only did she know that move, but she knew the voice that said it.
"Hm? It can't be-" she let out and raced down the street. She jumped over an overturned car, around a fallen street light to reach the corner. She stalled for a moment when a mighty crash was heard from the other side. It was either something good or bad, but that's what she was here to find out.
When she turned the corner, she saw a large man kneeling in the middle of the street which shattered beneath him. His large arms were before him wrapped around a thin blue creature; one with many extra arms that fell limply within his grip.
A deep satisfied breath was released from the man as he stood himself up. Opening his arms, he let the body fall freely from them to land limply on the ground. Seeing the aftermath of a move like that, Lucia saw her hunch proven true, for it was exactly who she thought it was, seemingly doing exactly what she thought he'd do.
"Mr. Mayor!" Lucia cried out. The man perked up. Turning over his wide shoulder he saw her standing there.
"It's just Mr. Haggar now." he corrected her with a smile beneath his moustache. She didn't dwell on the correction and ran up to him. Looking him over it seems he was perfectly fine, but then again what else did she expect? See looked down from him to the person-or whatever it was that he just pile drived into the ground. He was blue and lanky, with six arms. Beside him broken open onto the ground was a massive treasure chest whose contents had spilled all over the ground.
"What happened here?" she asked confused and concerned.
"This lowlife" Haggar said waving his arm down to him "tried to steal my championship belt." he said puffing his chest and body out, raising an arm to show off not only his physique but the golden belt wrapped around his waist.
"eehh" the thin slimy voice creeped from below "It's priceless. I must have it.." his voice hissed and waned beneath them.
"You want it. Earn It!" Haggar shouted with a meaty slap of his chest. Kollector remained writhing on the ground as Haggar turned his attention from him back to Lucia. "So, what brings you here?"
"So many things Mr. Mayor-I mean Mr. Haggar-"
"Mike's fine." he waved a ar,
"Right Mr. Mayor- I mean Mr. Mike." she stammered and corrected again, and he let out an amused chuckle at her "But you gotta keep up with the latest trends and I'm sure you know how crimes going!" she said chipperly as she pointed a finger up.
"Yeah." he nodded "It's more than crime, it's a damned invasion!" he raised his arms "Seeing the city now, become like this after all the hard work I've done!"
"Eh, I don't think anyone blames you sir. But I know Cody's gonna have his hands full. He's taken to the streets just like you did to fight them all off ya know." she told.
A proud smile graced Haggar's face, the tips of his moustache pointing up more "That kid." he said "He'll have his work cut out for him defending this city. No different than I had." he closed his eyes, remembering the time he took to the streets to take the fight directly to the scumbags. And he won back the city block by block. But when he opened his eyes, there was a different look in them, concern "But this is different Lucia. This is beyond Metro City. This is about every city."
"What are you saying Mr. May-Mike?"
"My Mayor days are done." Haggar admitted "I did all I could, but.." he paused as he slid the belt off his shoulder and placed it in both hands. The golden buckle shined on him "My fighting days aren't." he clenched both sides of the belt and then pulled it back into his body fastening it tighter around himself "I'm just a concerned citizen just like everyone else." he said tightening it the buckle, it still fitting him like it had all those years ago "So I'm gonna go out there and defend the people. Right in the streets against all this invading monsters and freaks!"
"Whoo hoo!" Lucia cheered him on.
"Nothing's gonna stop me!" he declared as he turned his back to her and began trudging through the dirtied street.
"Don't think you can go alone!" she chirped as she skipped up beside him "It might be a bit out of my jurisdiction, but every mayor needs his own security team you know." she said pointedly shaking a finger.
"I'm not mayor anymore." he corrected kindly again "But I'll take any help." he raised a clenched fist to shoot a thumbs up at her.
"Let's go!" she cheered "Lead the charge Mr. Mayor!"
"Please," he chuckled "just Mike."
Fight Your Rival! Subway
As soon as the two of them had left, Stryker had launched the Blanka-chan doll discarding it on the ground. It took a few tries to get the dog not to bring it back to him, but eventually they went on without it. If only he could be rid of another's company.
Good thing they weren't trying to catch a train, otherwise they'd be late by now. With all of Johnny's constant pestering this journey hadn't been a quiet one, but it was productive. It seems things were a lot worse than Stryker initially thought. Or perhaps they just got worse the longer this went on. Either way Stryker was sure they made contributions to Raiden's cause already, indirectly or otherwise. As for his own dilemma, his contact was still dark. Looking down, he gazed at his phone as he walked.
"So, in a western duel shootout who wins you or Erron Black?" Johnny asked suddenly. Stryker turned his head up to him.
"What the hell kind of question is that?"
"A good one." Johnny retorted though he clearly didn't agree. Stryker rolled his eyes and the dog beneath him let out a low grumble too.
"He's got a revolver, I have this." Stryker tapped his sidearm confident in his ability to outshoot Erron Black sure, but more so he just wanted to shut Johnny up.
"But his bullets have names on em." Johnny replied tactfully, but it didn't convince Stryker once bit who became even more flabbergasted as this-and many other- stupid conversations went on.
"What the hell does that have to do with anything?"
Johnny was about to retort, but thankfully he wouldn't get the chance for right at that moment Stryker's heart dropped. For his pone had received a message. He opened his phone, and he came to a complete stop and buried his head within it. Concerned his dog perked up, jumping up to reach his arm and try to read himself.
"Hey!" Johnny let out "What is it? What's going on?" Johnny asked concerned. Stryker didn't reply for he was too busy reading what was sent. His heart dropped for it was in fact his contact. His friend reaching out to him for the first time since all of this realm battling happened. It means he was alive, and for now safe. He was relieved at that. But that wasn't what the message said, for it finally responding to his last question.
'Outworld jungle.'
"Is it Li Mei?" Johnny asked slyly bumping up to him to read for himself.
"Outworld Jungle." Stryker read aloud.
'Huh?"
"Outworld Jungle." he repeated.
"That's where your date it?"
"That's where my friend is," Stryker said "or perhaps where he's going." he realized.
"Then it's where were going too." Johnny said.
"Huh?" Stryker said caught off guard. He was so focused on Johnny that he didn't notice the dog jump back down, to peer at the platform below them. Its ears perked up on alert.
"He's your friend, right? So, let's go save him. Or help him if we have to. Either way, we're going there."
Stryker was bit surprised at Johnnys "Yeah." he smiled at him. The confidence and selflessness of Johnnys words had rubbed off on him. Perhaps he wasn't as bad as he thought.
Suddenly the dog barked and when the two looked over they saw he was gone, having dashed down the stairs to the lower platform of the subway.
"Hey!" Johnny called.
"Damn it!" Stryker cursed, and they raced after the dog. He had already disappeared from their sight by the time they leapt onto the stairs. They didn't hear anything else until echoing up from the station below was a woman's sudden shriek.
Stryker and Johnny hurried further down the stairs and even jumped over the bottom few to land at the subway platform. They looked ahead, seeing a large, burly mustached man with a golden belt standing on the subway platform. But he wasn't their concern. It was the woman he fretted over. She was dressed in a blue uniform; an officer just like Stryker was. They seemed to be standing idly around, perhaps waiting for the train, but they weren't idle anymore. For they were fretting over who else was with them. Looking ahead Stryker saw there was on his dog, standing up and wrapped around her leg. He was.. oh no.
"Hey!" Stryker shouted out his voice echoing through the platform. The mustached man was trying to shoo the dog away as the woman waved her leg, but the dog wouldn't let go and continued on. But at the sound of Strykers call both of them stopped from looking at the dog to look at him.
Naturally the dog kept going at her leg. Running up to them Stryker and Johnny stopped before them. Stryker, however, went right to business.
"Come here!" he snapped as he grabbed the dog by the collar and pried him off of the womans let, though it took much effort to do so.
"I thought you said he didn't like strangers." Johnny quipped behind him.
"He doesn't!" Stryker said as he scolded the dog, holding him close by his side. He then looked up to the woman "I am so sorry about this." he apologized.
"Heeey, don't you know about leash laws?" she said tapping her own baton against her hand "I should ticket you."
Stryker shrunk at her gaze, embarrassed. Johnny however, stalled as he and the larger man looked not at the two officers they were with, but at each other. A glare shining through each of their sunglasses.
"Like I said I'm really sorry Miss." Stryker apologized again.
"That's Officer Lucia!" she snapped at him.
"Officer Stryker." he pointed to his own nameplate.
"Is this how you patrol the streets where you're from? Cuz that's now how we do it in Metro city." she continued to berate him, and he could do no more than take it.
"I understand-"
"Mike Haggar!" Johnny's voice suddenly let out spitefully before him. The two cops cut their talk short as they looked to their side, to see the two of them men glaring at each other.
Across from him, Mike let out a deep breath, his chest rising and then lowering as he did and when he did, he returned the courtesy "Johnny Cage." he said. The two continued to glare at each other as Stryker and Lucia exchanged glances between the two. Though in their stares the dog tried to have another go at her outstretched leg "I'm as surprised to see you out here as I am in your movies." Haggar said in a grumbly voice "Gotta say, I always thought your movies were too tacky for my taste. Ninja mime bleh." he mocked "Too many special effects and body doubles."
"Only got one body double." Johnny grinned "I got the good side." he turned his head to give them his profile "and the other good side." he turned his head the other way showing the other side. He then set himself straight to look at Haggar "I'm my own special effects team. More real than any wrestling match." he scoffed.
Haggar grumbled at him "You've seen me in the streets. You know I'm the real deal."
"Oh, I like the policies big guy, no problemo there." he admitted snapping his fingers at him "Just haven't seen you in action for some time. More surprising to see you out here than me."
"You're probably just here for the press tour. When's the last time you signed an autograph?"
"My biggest fan and good buddy right there" he said keeping his eyes on Haggar but pointed to Stryker who only rolled his eyes at him "But I'm more of a stay-at-home dad now, supporting my two leading ladies."
"Hm. Can't say I disagree with that." Haggar said paying him back for the compliment from before "So, you've left the action scene behind."
"Oh, I'm still in top shape. " he said flexing and then kissing his bicep "Never stopped being it."
"Another boast." Haggar said "You always were more talk than action."
"Oh, I can back up my talk." Johnny said confidently "I recall offering an exhibition match you never showed up for."
"Hm. I had bigger scumbags to take down then." Haggar smirked "But I'm here now, aren't I?"
Johnny looked him over "So you are." he grinned. Whatever was going in, both seemed to be in agreement on it.
"No rings out." Haggar said bringing his arms up.
"No jokes, no gimmicks, just kombat." Johnny agreed moving his legs further apart.
Haggar widened his arms and stance. Johnny eased himself into a fighting position. From beside him Stryker couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"ahh" he sighed gruffly "We don't have time for this. We-" a baton was suddenly pointed in his face. Looking over he saw it was by the hand of Lucia.
"No one gets near the mayor without going through his security force!"
"I'm not-" she suddenly swung at him that he ducked under as Johnny leapt up with green colored kick that Haggar brought his arm up to take the brunt of. He then raised a meaty arm and swiped it down at Johnny who back away as another swipe at Stryker ""Listen meter maid!"
"Meter Maid?!" Lucia exclaimed "Shows what you know Mall Cop!"
"Mall Cop!?" he repeated just as offended. Stumbling back Stryker let go of the dog who bounded up playfully towards Lucia with wide eyes and his tongue hanging out of his mouth. But she had her eyes set on Stryker who was already over all of this. "How do I get into this?" he sighed. He looked over to Johnny who threw a green ball at Haggar which he ducked under "Just when I was starting to like you." he sighed readying himself for an unnecessary fight.
Sub-Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Stryker and Johnny Cage
In the tunnels of the subway Stryker reassessed himself after that last- and certainly most pointless so far-battle. He loaded a fresh magazine into his pistol before he twirled it around his finger and locked it back into his holster. Beside him Johnny Cage assessed himself; taking his sunglasses off, to see that they were split right down in the middle.
He merely shrugged that off before tossing them away with one hand, and with his other produced a brand new pair from his pocket. Grinning with a shining smile, he put the new pair on his face.
"Yep." he said confidently taking in a deep breath "Still got it." he declared exhaling. Out if his tinted gaze he saw Stryker glaring at him, and when he turned his head to view him, Johnny faced it fully, but was just as clueless as to why. "What?" he asked as Stryker continued to grill him; no doubt angry that he had to get them into an exhibition style pissing match when there were bigger things going on in the world. Johnny, however, came to a different conclusion "You want a pair too?" he asked "You can have those." he pointed off to the sunglasses he threw off his face.
Stryker finally took his vision off him, in the form of a tired sigh. Rolling his head to view the other side of the subway. He saw the platform rising up on the other end. The first place he encountered Nightwolf during Shao Kahn's invasion of Earthrealm. And here he was now, fighting that same battle. Just with not as much help as he would have wanted... and against even strangers' foes.
His attention was taken away suddenly by a fierce growl. Looking down he saw his dog looking into the dark shadows of the subway, baring his teeth and growling. Looking himself, Johnny turned too. Each one looked into the tunnel. There was no sound of a train coming, or sight of anything at all. The dog continued to growl at something... then suddenly something growled back.
Two bright hellish eyes opened in the darkness of the track, level with them though there was no platform there for it. Johnny raised an eyebrow and Stryker was unnerved. The growl turned to an airy hiss and the eyes shifted as if with a step.
A bare red foot emerged from the shadow to step onto the platform, and another followed. Finally, a head appeared attached to a stooped over figure.
"What in the hell?"
"What kinda looney bin did he walk out of?" Johnny asked. Once Necalli did, the dog began to bark constantly and tried to jump at him, but Stryker snatched him by the collar.
"Easy." Stryker said calming the dog down as Necalli continued to slump his way to them "Hey!" Stryker called his voice echoing "What are you doing down here?" he asked.
"Maybe he's trying to catch the train?" Johnny guessed.
"III aaammm" Necalli droned.
"Stuttering?" Johnny finished "Chew your food." he quipped.
"Here for you... for your soulsss."
"And there's the catch." Johnny snapped. Necalli's head then snapped at him. He opened his mouth to let out a heavy breath and then gurgled more words to him.
"Yyyouu were bread for the gods. The cult of warriors."
"Nice to know someone appreciated raw talent." he said shooting him a thumbs up, as his hand glowed green.
"Yours will be mine! All the souls of the strongest will be mine!"
Thinking back to his first encounter here, Stryker recalled Ermac threatening the very same thing. So, he gave Necalli the same answer.
"Yeah!" he brought up a hand to wave it "Come and get it!" he said as he brought it back down into a fist. Barking his dog stepped through his legs.
Sub-Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Lucia and Haggar
The two heard the dreaded sound before they saw it. The sound of flat heavy feet echoing out from the subway to them. Their heads turned around though no matter where they looked, they saw no sight of anything. The only thing they could tell was that it was getting closer.
Haggar looked to one end of the platform while Lucia looked to another. Seeing nothing their way their heads turned to look the other. Looking at where Lucia once did, Haggar saw something now. He could not tell what, but something was standing at the top of the platform. The very one Stryker and Johnny had entered from. And whatever was up there cast a long shadow down the stairs, onto the platform with them. And had begun to make its way down.
Stiffening in place, Haggar was ready for more trouble to come from that stairwell. He was sure of it, when a flat bare foot stomped down.
Lucia at that time was looking at the other side of the platform, leaning forward to try to peer up the opposing stairwell, trying to see the way Stryker, Johnny and the dog went.
"Think I should've asked for an autograph?"
"Lucia." Haggar said getting her attention. Perking up curiously when she looked over her shoulder, she saw Haggar standing ready, like a great big bear making itself known to some oncoming predator. And when she looked past him to see that predator descending down the stairs, she sprang into action.
"EH!" she peeped "Look out Mister Mayor!" Lucia said putting herself between Haggar and what was approaching. Necalli finally slammed his two feet onto the platform to come level with them. He stood up tall himself before he lowered himself into a crouch. He snarled at them as he came forward.
"Hm." Haggar huffed "Now what is this?"
"A homeless person?" Lucia suggested unsure herself "A lost traveler?"
Necalli hissed "I amm here for what is miiiinnee."
"A scavenger." she finished.
"He's got quite the gimmick." Haggar said amused crossing his arms behind Lucia.
"Would've been a good idea to have a dog now." Lucia mused.
"Former champiioonn." Necalli hacked; his voice thick like something was caught in his throat "Former leaderrr."
"Former maybe." Haggar admitted unwrapping his arms "But if you're here there must be something you want." he said stepping around Lucia to him.
"Your souul!"
"Ha!" Haggar only laughed "Is that it?! We'll you've come a long way to get nothing from me!"
"Yeah!" Lucia snapped beside him "It's not for sale!"
"I shall taake it! It was promised to mee it is mine!"
"Shoulda asked for an autograph instead." Haggar said.
"Now how do you spell your name?" Lucia asked "I gotta know what to write on my arrest report." Necalli only let out a blood curdling screech and charged them.
Stryker and Johnny Cage Ending
"Are you sure this is it?" Johnny asked as they waded through the thick jungle brush, ankle high in grass and head first into low hanging vines "How do you know it's not some other inland jungle?" he asked unsurely as he took an uncertain step forward.
"That's where you brought up to!" Stryker fumed as he swiped a branch away. Between the grass rustled as the dog passed through it having a much easier time than the two of them. The two continued to struggle their way through, but as Stryker trudged and Johnny shifted, he thought he saw something ahead.
"What's that?" Johnny asked. Looking ahead Stryker saw it to. The jungle thinned out ahead and sunlight actually managed to pass through unobstructed by the thick trees and leaves overhead. It opened up into small clearing in the jungle and they two made a stronger effort towards it. It would be the perfect spot to find their bearings. They slowed to a stop as they came to the rim of it, remaining within the trees and bushes.
Peering at the opening, they saw the aftermath of a battle, with some new and familiar faces to be seen all around.
Noticeably Sonya and Jax stood together, but there were not alone. Chun-li, Cammy and Guile were with them. Remnants of broken and defeated robots littered the ground, having been beaten to pieces.
The only others that were living were being loaded into a truck; one was Kano, and the other was Juri. It seems Sonya and Chun-Li would be getting what they wanted today. But Stryker wanted something too. Kano and Juri was not the only catch it seemed for tied up and still on the ground was a masked man. Burns covered his skin from wherever it could be seen. A thick Metallic mask covered his face. A tube flowed down from it to connect with a plate on his chest. The tube recoiled and swayed from his breathing.
"Kabal." Stryker said softly as he gazed at him. There he was after all this time. Seeing him, Stryker knew this was the place and he took a step forward.
The group, however, did not seem him coming and were instead focused on finishing their shared venture.
"Let's get these guys out of here." Sonya said as she watched the three being taken away.
"Thanks for your help." Jax said looking at the two women who nodded back to him "And you." he looked up to Guile, his voice and stare a bit harder than it had been to the other two. Guile bore the brunt of it, however. He knew it was an uphill battle to win back their trusts. If this hadn't done it, he would have done more if he had to. But as Guile silently bore Jax's stare, he saw that it softened towards him and Jax reached out a metal arm to him, not in a fist but in an open hand. Chun-li and Cammy beside them gasped as Sonya just crossed her arms and nodded "You gained my trust." he finally said, validating Guile in his eyes.
"It was the least I could do." Guile said reaching his own arm out "Sorry, I broke it in the first place." he said shaking it.
"As for your friend." Sonya said getting his attention as she strolled up to join them. Guile looked to her now as she came beside Jax "Find Sub-zero. He may know how to-"
"Hold everything!" a voice cried out. The five of them looked over to see a blue uniformed man appear from the jungle. A dog jumped out beside him. "PD." Stryker said holding up his golden badge to prove his credentials. But he might as well have brought a knife to a gun fight because everyone else responded in kind.
"Interpol." Chun-li said.
"Delta Red." Cammy told.
"Special Forces." Sonya said for her and Jax.
"Air force." Guile answered.
Feeling outgunned before all of them Stryker put his arms and badge down and went silent after a muttered 'Shit'. But that doesn't mean everyone else was.
"Hello!" Johnny Cage cried out as he jumped out of the jungle making a grand entrance as he would in any movie.
"Oh great." Sonya sighed letting her head fall to her hand.
"Well, I'll be." Jax smirked as Chun-Li, Cammy and Guile looked on unsure of what to make of the two newcomers. The two men and the dog made their way over to them enlargening the group more. At the sight of Stryker, Kabal perked up.
"Thanks for the help. But I'll be taking over from here." Stryker said.
"You? Sonya questioned.
"On what grounds?" Chun-li asked stepping up.
"It was my guy who tipped you off to this right?" Confused looks went over all of the faces before him.
"Your guy?" Chun-li asked. Stryker said nothing to her or to any of them. He would let his actions speak for themselves. Taking it out his pistol and without looking he pointed it out to his side and shot it. The bullet rang out throughout the jungle, but it ended with a distinct metal clink as the handcuffs that held Kabal were shot off freeing him. Stryker said nothing as he rose to his full height.
"Took you long enough." he said rolling his wrist.
"You're not the easiest one to race after." Stryker said. The two then threw their hands out and shook them just as Jax and Guile had, though it seemed there was no lost trust between them. A happy bark was let out as the dog went over to Kabal rubbing against his leg. Bringing a hand down he began to scratch and pet the dog and due to the speed, he did it at, the dog was very much sedated and rolled onto his back as Kabal's hand moved to his stomach.
"I figured as much." Jax said looking at the display.
"I thought you were holding back against us." Cammy said looking to him.
"Wish I hadn't." Kabal said rolling his shoulders "You hit too hard." he said before he turned over to Stryker "We've been here too long. Let's go." he told as he moved to walk off. Stryker moved to go with him but was stopped by Johnny who grabbed him by the arm
"Hey buddy-what about me?"
"Well, I got my buddy back." Stryker said as he looked past him to see the other five looking at them "Why don't you make some new friends." he said as he rolled his arm out of his grip to catch up to Kabal. The two disappeared into the jungle as Johnny turned back to them, his eyes instantly went to Chun-li and Cammy.
"Ladies." he swooned as he came at them "You know I got a movie coming up, right? Johnny Cage vs Fei Long." The two women shared amused looks, looking to Sonya who rolled her eyes and then back to him.
"Trailer looks good." Chun-li said complimentary.
"My moneys on Fei long." Cammy said a bit harsher as Jax chuckled at Johnnys expense while Sonya only sighed.
"Only because you've fought him." Johnny said pointing a finger "Try me out." he said readying himself for a fight. Cammy at the behest of everyone else squared off against him.
Walking side by side through the jungle Kabal turned to Stryker.
"So, you got any plans now?" Kabal asked.
"If I can get a real vacation, sure." Stryker asked.
"Might find a nice spot to take Li Mei." Kabal said and right as he did Stryker's phone went off. He looked down at him, and his fade went glum "Who is it?"
"Her." Stryker answered and regarded the text with growing dread "You missed date night." he read aloud.
Lucia and Haggar Ending
His footsteps were so heavy that they drowned out her light ones that were right behind them. The stairway to his old office was exactly as he had remembered it. Long, high and cramped. Lucia tried to peak around him as they climbed, but couldn't see anything over his shoulders, past his swaying arms or over his head.
The only thing she was able to make out was when he stopped completely. And she did so too, coming short of bumping right into him. Haggar took in a deep breath.
Lucia popped her head between his arm "You alright?"
"Just taking it all in." he said calmly before breaking into an enthusiastic smile "Let's see if it's just how I remember it!" he said before he plunged his fists forward and broke the doors open too slamming then into the walls.
And on the other side of those doors, in the office of the Mayor of Metro City were three people who were completely still and silent. One closest to them who looked startled, the other was a woman who was standing beside the desk Haggar once used to sit at.
And sitting behind that desk with a blank expression on his face was Cody. The New Mayor of Metro City.
Their eyes locked instantly.
The world seemed to thin out and become smaller as their stare was held onto the other as the silence of the room grew and the atmosphere became tense, like two great predators eyeing each other in their territory.
Popping up behind Haggar Lucia took notice of the stare off going on as Guy and Cody watched on. She glanced from Haggar to Cody then back to Haggar and Cody again. Blinking a few more times she looked at everyone in the room and spoke.
"Whatcha looking at?" she asked out.
"Hmm." Haggar mused "Run a tight shift here dontcha?"
Behind the desk Cody looked past his kicked up feet to look at him "What makes you say that?" he asked.
"Damn boy," Haggar said taking a step forward "I've walked campaign trails that were worse than some of my days in office, but this!" he stopped as he centered himself in the room, stretching his arms out as his voice boomed "This was something else! I haven't had to fight such freaks since I was on these streets!" he said brining his arms down just a bit "You've really come a long way." he said "A far cry from that troublemaker I took you for." he then pushed his arm out to shoot him a thumbs up "Keep up the good work kid!"
Bowing his head, a bit Cody closed his eyes "From one mayor to another... thanks." he smiled.
But as soon as his praise as given someone else stepped between Cody and Haggar's shared line of sight of each other.
"And I helped!" Poison said chipperly as she hopped before him.
"Did ya now?" Haggar said as he looked down at her. The edges of his mouth turned into a smirk turning the rounded edges of his moustache up "Hm." he huffed "I guess things have changed around here."
At that moment Lucia sprang into action putting herself between the small space between Haggar and Poison to occupy it herself.
"So, I guess you just couldn't keep yourself out of trouble this time huh?" she asked peering up against Poison who turning her head up from Lucia's invasion of her space, just smirked down at her "Start any of it when the mayor wasn't looking?"
"No..." Poison turned her head down to face Lucia and her smirk turned wider "I just couldn't ignore that impulse to fight." she said brining up her whip.
"Well with all those law breakers not here," Lucia said brining up a baton in reply to her challenge "Whatta gonna do now?"
"Maybe act on that impulse to fight!" Poison said and raised her arm to slash her whip down as Lucia brought her baton up to meet her.
"Not in here you're not." Cody said freezing the two of them in place mid swing, the only thing that moved was their eyes as they glanced over to Cody "If you got something to settle, take it outside." he said nodding off to the door behind them.
"For you, I'll be on my best behavior." she said putting her whip to her hips and rolling them.
"If that's what ya want Mister Mayor." Lucia said putting her arms down and then put them over her mouth "Oh!" she turned to Haggar "Sorry Mike." she apologized but he only laughed. He then lumbered his way over to the left side of the desk and put his arm up to brace himself
"So," Haggar said "What'd you get into?" he asked looking to Guy over on the right side. Between them Cody did the same from behind it.
"Well," Guy began with a deep breath "It's a long story." he said as behind them with the three's attention not on them, Lucia and Poison squared off "It all began when-" he was cut off as a bright green light overtook the room.
The three men looked up as the two women shielded their eyes for they were right beneath it. As quickly as the green light came and overtook the room it went out for two great shapes formed within it. When the light was gone everyone looked to the center of the room, standing to the left of Lucia and Poison were two more figures; two men or at least they looked like it.
One was tall with a beard, wearing red with a cloth over his eyes covering them from sight. A sword poked over his shoulder. He stood back to back with a figure who was just as tall as he was. He had the outline of a man but was in fact a yellow robot. His right forearm was out.
"Hmmm." the blind man said as he seemed to look around "This doesn't look like Outworld at all." he said. He then turned his head slightly over his shoulder to look at the robot "Your teleporter must not be working properly." he said with a small smile.
Turning his head slightly the robot responded.
"So, it seems." he agreed in a voice that while metallic still had a semblance of humanity in hit, hence the dismal tone he agreed with. Despite the twos casual conversation, everyone else was still very much shocked by their sudden appearance.
"Look?!" Poison exclaimed at the odd choice of words for a man who had his eyes covered. Now the two looked over to see they had landed in the middle of an office and there were five prying eyes on them,
"Sorry." the blind man let out "Did we interrupt?" he asked "Sorry," he apologized again "we were just trying to-" he was cut off as a whip was pointed to his throat like a sword.
"A likely story!" Poison snapped. Beside her outstretched whip a baton appeared threatening them in the same manner.
"You just seem like more trespassers to me." Lucia accused alongside Poison.
"I'm sure it seems that way." the robot said "But we did not mean to intrude. I assure you we are passing through on a mission for the Outworld-"
"Yeah, so were all the others!" Lucia said inching closer to them. Sensing a standoff, the two broke their stance with each other to go against the two women.
"Please," Kenshi said "It shouldn't come to this."
"That's right." a youthful voice called, and everyone looked over to the desk where from behind it, Cody loosened his tie. Then he kicked his legs and the looser it became the higher he rose. He eyed the two strangers who appeared at random, just like everyone else who had come to his city "Because if anyone's gonna deal with this, it's gonna be me."
"Yeah!" Lucia cheered as Poison whistled.
"Not alone you won't." Haggar said stepping taking over Cody's vision of the two just as he did with Lucia before, rolling his wide shoulders as he did "I'll show you how we did it when I was mayor!" he said taking a stance no different than he would in the wrestling ring.
"Another wrestler." Kenshi sighed noticing the stance and following it up with a sigh "And here I thought everything going back to normal would make this easier."
"Seems pretty normal for here!" Haggar said as he lunged at them as Cody flung himself over his desk to go at them. The two Mayors fought side by side, having their own tag team match in ring as everyone else watched on like a ravenous crowd.