Cody and Poison
Spinning around with a kick, it connected with the jaw that housed long sharp teeth, shattering them and sending its owner, the now toothless Tarkatan flying through the air, skidding down to the street before it stopped joining the pile of Tarkatans, Shokan, Aztec, Shaolin Monks and Special Forces.
"And stay down." Cody said dryly as he dropped his outstretched leg to come back to the ground. He then put his other hand away into his pocket to join the other. He stood stoically among the usual destruction and mayhem of Metro City; now his city that he was mayor.
The blood on his pant leg didn't deter him. But whose blood it was did.
"Awful lotta freaks in my city." he stated aloud as he rolled his head around. He stopped to stare up to look at the sky. He couldn't see it however, hardly able to see beyond the tallest building due to the pollution and smoke that blocked his view of the sky. But if you believed the rumors, it was more than just an eclipse. It was a full-on invasion. And it was brought upon his already war torn City. Which made it his problem.
He closed his eyes and let in breath.
It was tall order being himself already. Even taller being the Mayor. But he would follow in the footsteps of the last mayor of Metro City. And he took to the streets to prove that. It didn't matter if it was gangsters, world warriors', demons or monsters. If they had no place in his city, he would drive them out.
That was his determination.
But even he admitted, he couldn't do it alone. Contemplating silently to himself, the sound of burning fires, blaring alarms and crumbling concrete was muffed out as he thought of someone. The one person who was always by his side and who he knew would be able to help him through this. As he always had.
"Guy." Cody said his name aloud opening his eyes and half expecting his friend to be there before him.
He wasn't of course; it was just the amped up carnage and chaos. But Cody knew it would not be like this forever, even if his face didn't show it. And he knew wherever he was in all of this Guy was out there making his way to help him.
"I guess all I can do is wait for you, my friend." Cody sighed resigning himself to his friend's arrival. But he knew he wouldn't be idle until then. The city wasn't safe yet, and his work wasn't done.
"Wait no longer!" a woman's voice suddenly rang out behind him. It was half threatening, half boastful but entirely flirtatious. And all too familiar.
The seriousness in his face deepened as he swung around to meet the voice, bringing his leg up for a kick to dispel another trouble maker. And when he brought it back around, he saw that two pale arms were bracing it, with a whip connecting them. A head then poked over his attacking leg.
"Hey! That's no way to treat a lady!" Poison huffed as she braced against his leg, but her eyes peered forward through her bangs and under her hat to him "Or old friends." She finished more upbeat now.
Finally, he relented in his leg and moved it away from her with an added push of her own, but he did not initially lower it.
"Or old problems." he told.
"Cody! Baby-" she dropped her arms and propped them on her hips "I didn't know you had dealings with these freaks?" she said no doubt referencing the worse than usual state of Metro City and the pile of odd looking fighters behind him.
"I don't." he said flatly as he lowered his leg back to the ground. At least no more than anyone else these days.
"Well," she ran a hand through her hair and whipped it "I know you weren't talking about m-"
"I was." he cut her off. She brought her arms up to pout and cross them.
"And here I came all this way to see you."
"You saw me." he said "And more than enough." he paused to look around his city, not to get distracted by old 'acquaintances'.
"And you haven't changed one bit." She leaned forward and pointed at him "I mean I bet you beat all these guys by yourself."
"I did." he said unflatteringly, just stating the facts. He rolled his neck and shoulders now.
"Oh, baby there's nothing you can't do." she cheered him on.
"You're right." He agreed dismally that initially raised her spirits "I've got no time to waste with you." he shot her down.
"Hm." She crossed her arms "Except break a woman's heart." she pouted at him again.
"If your here for a date beat it," he said as he turned away from her "I've got bigger things to deal with." He said as he shot his thumb to point off away from him and down the road clogged with traffic, though it was abandoned cars that blocked the streets now. Since everyone either ran in fear or crawled into a hole to hide since this started.
"Well.." she paused tapping her foot, her heel giving it an extra loud and annoying tapping sound "what are you doing then? Doesn't seem like much right now."
He settled himself down and looked away from her "I'm waiting for someone." he said in a softer tone, but his voice was still hard.
"Hm? But I'm right here." she reassured him.
"It's not you." he said sharply.
"Ohh you waitin' on some guy." She waved her arms around at him.
"Not any Guy." he replied with emphasis on his use of the word "My friend."
"Well, doesn't look like your friends here for you."
"Neithers yours." he said noticing now that Hugo had not made himself known "Shouldn't you be out looking for him?"
"Oh, we got lost in all the hullabaloo. You've seen the sky, haven't you?" Cody took another looked to the sky, but he still couldn't see what everyone was talking about. But he didn't need to see it to know what was going on.
"So, it's true I guess." he said with a sigh. He then lowered his head, resolving himself to protect his city. And to wait for Guy to arrive to help him "Then I'll just have to sit here and wait for Guy." he set his eyes on her again.
"Wait? Why Wait?!" Poison let out shocked.
"What's it look like? He's not here." he told.
"Well why would you wait for him when I'm right here." She asked again.
"You?" he questioned finally seeming to take the hint "I suppose I'll have to deal with you first." He said turning to face her again and taking his hands from his pockets, with the intent to use them.
"Ooohh" she purred "What'd you have in mind?"
"I was about to ask what jail to crawled out of, so I know to throw you into a different one."
"What?! you can't throw me away I haven't done anything yet." she stomped her foot.
"Not yet." he said dryly.
"Hm." she turned her nose up at him "If you must know I happened to be reformed."
"You?" he questioned again.
She brought her head back down but nodded it back up smugly at him "That's right. Since you're not good at taking hints, I'll just have to tell you. I'm not in the Mad Gear Ganga anymore. I'm a good girl now. It may not be fun, but it can be rewarding and to prove it to you..." she paused as she set her eyes back on him, but he raised an eyebrow at her dreading where this would be going next "You can be my parole officer. Watch over me as you help me clean up your city!" she cheered and threw her hands up triumphantly. But he didn't feel triumphant.
"I didn't ask you to."
"Oh, but I volunteered" she bounded up to him "What do you say?" she leaned forward towards him "Deputize me or do you need a secretary?" she said inching closer to him, but he just kept leaning back from her not in the mood for games, annoyances or distractions.
"I need Guy."
"Well!" poison said backing up from him and then extended her whip out to him "You got Poison!" she said with all the flare and finesse of a wrestling announcer "So come on Mister Mayor, show me you haven't lost your touch behind your desk."
"Oh, this is gonna be more work than I thought." Cody sighed.
Kano and Kabal
He tried his best to stay in contact, but that just got a whole lot harder. When the realms opened up it got a lot harder to get where you needed to go. Even for someone like him who could get there pretty quickly, it still wasn't easy. Getting to one place without getting sidetracked was no longer an option. One second, you're in Outworld, the next you're in an abandoned temple in India. What didn't make matters any easier was the constant fighting coming seemingly from all sides. It was enough to make your head spin, of course Kabal was the one who was doing the spinning.
Having found a nice quiet spot-for now at least- among the rubble of the town Kabal knew what he had to do. Despite his inhuman exterior of a metal outer skeleton and burns beyond healing, he knew what he was. Or rather is. Sometimes he wasn't sure.
But he knew there were still people who cared for him, who relied on him. He was in the middle of an important mission when all of this went down, and he lost contact with all of them.
Whether he could go forward with it... well maybe that wasn't his call of not.
Looking down at his phone, it had been some time since he was last contacted. And even longer than that since he responded. But finding restitute even in a place as destroyed at this was enough for him. He opened his phone ready to reply, and like everything he was quick with messages. But he was also quick to notice the sound of two boots approaching him from behind.
He feigned he didn't hear them at first, allowing them to stroll forward, sounding very casual despite where they were and who he was. This was an ambush to be sure, but Kabal was going to make sure that he didn't end up on the wrong side of the ground. He continued to keep his head down and his the one who approached remained unsuspecting. That was until a few final loud steps and a shadow overtook him.
Then in a flash Kabal turned around replacing his phone with his long, curved hook swords. Though the blade was rounded at the end, it still gave the impression of someone willing to use them as he caught the hooks around the thick neck of the man approaching him.
Yet despite that, the person on the other end of them only grinned.
"Easy mate." Kano said with his hands up defensively though he hardly looked concerned "It's just me."
"Kano-" Kabal exclaimed as he lowered his swords and Kano his arms.
"In the flesh!" he boasted spreading his arms out as Kabal's went to his side.
"Can't say I'm surprised to see you here." He admitted. Kano's survived worse and evaded harder foes. It didn't surprise him he weaseled his way through this.
"Gotta go where there's profit."
"If anyone could make something lucrative out of this, it'd be you." Kabal complimented though his voice was far from it.
"Guilty as charged." he agreed maliciously. One that made Kabal uneasy. "And I got one that's gonna make the Black Dragon the winner in this thing."
"Doesn't seem like anyone will come out on top through this."
"Dah!" Kano waved his hands "Not like that, they won't." he said "What happened to ya? " he said as Kano dove at him putting an arm over his shoulder as the other one patted his chest "What happened to my old mate that used to jump at the chance ta make a quick win?"
"He slowed down." he replied dryly.
"Ohohoh I bet not." Kano said as his eye gleamed enhancing the maliciousness in his face and voice "Come on," he shook him "you gotta come with me mate!" he pleaded, sincerity in his voice though it still sounded rough "It'll be like old times, like nothing ever changed."
"Things to change Kano." Kabal told him tiredly as he tried to get out of Kanos arm.
"And they can change back." he shot back confidently, the leer in his face growing wider as he held his closer.
Kabal let out a heavy metal breath. He could see Kano waiting out of the corner of his eye, waiting to hear from his 'Old Mate' again. "All the forces out there fighting, and you found a way to cone out on top.. this I gotta hear." he said unconvinced but turning back to him.
"That's IT!" Kano cheered and slapped him in the back sending him reeling forward, though Kano's other arm was there to catch him. "You won't regret it, Mate!" We're in the money on this war!"
Reeling Kabal let out a few pained coughs "What do you have planned?" Kabal said coming back up to him.
"Just a little business venture." Kano said brining a hand up and rubbing his fingers together. "One I need an old friend for." he said offering a hand out. Kabal looked at it warily before he took it and shook it, sealing the deal in Kano's eye and it glowed even brighter now. "There ya go. Quiet life doesn't suite you."
"It was quiet before you got here." Kabal reminded him tiredly. He let out a sigh before asking "So where to?"
"Right this way." Kano said bowing and throwing his arms out to his right, though following them Kabal only saw the remnants of the city around them.
"There's nothing there."
"We gotta get there first." Kano explained as he stood back up "An while we're at it." he said with a leer "Might as well take out all the competition." he said in a dark voice that made a shiver go up Kabal's metallic spine.
"I'm sure it'll be worth it."
"With you and me together mate" Kano said as he turned and began to walk off. Kabal followed him only a step behind "It will be." he said relieved, happy things were so distorted that he could make his biggest venture yet, with his old friend.
Who unbeknownst to him, Kabal was typing away on his phone behind him.
Fight Your Rival! Metro City Bay Area
Cody walked the beat of his city. A hand tucked comfortably into the pant pocket of his suit, the other dangling limply at his side, swaying with each step he took. His head bobbed from one side to the other with each step he took as he looked at the state of his city. It had always been through a lot, but this was even worse than that. Who knows how it would look once this was all done, if it ever ended. As he contemplated everything silently, the one beside him was the exact opposite.
"Sooo" Poison sang as she hopped from behind to alongside him "where do we go next Mister Mayor?"
"Wherever there's trouble." he stated simply as he walked on not even turning his head to answer.
"Well, that shouldn't be too hard to find." she said as she stood up straight again but folded her arms behind her back as they walked, her whip poking out from her side. They had been up and down the city blocks, abandoned buildings and overcrowded highways fighting off every potential invader. Whether they were ninjas, robots, demons or anything in between no one could stand against the two of them and once they were done, they were told to take the long way around town to get wherever they were going. Metro City had no place for any of their kind.
Of course, though neither of them said it, they both knew it. The fights got harder and the opponents stronger the longer this went on. But Poison wasn't worried. She knew they would be able to tackle it together, and she could tell she was showing him a new side to her and that he didn't just need to Cody to take on the world.
But he did need Poison to take on multiple ones.
The two rounded a corner and came to the end of the road. Rusty fences lined the edge and beyond it was the wading water of the bay.
"Oh" she let out slyly as she looked to him though he kept his gaze ahead to the distant horizon "This your idea of a romantic evening?"
"No." he said as he walked off leaving her behind, but she quickly rebounded and skipped after him "The bays the only place I haven't been yet." he said as he went up to the railing to stare off into it "I don't want any troublemakers thinking they're sage here." he said as he gazed ahead. But little did they know they were being watched, with a red tinted vision.
On a nearby roof overlooking the bay, they came to inspect Kano leaned down, his mechanical eye focused on both of them. Poison now swerved around to come into his line of vision to say something to Cody, but whatever it was he didn't seem interested and shut it down.
"Uh huh." Kano commented as his red eye gave him a readout of information about both of these fighters which he interpreted aloud for the one who was with him "Bullshit, Bullshit, Bullshit." he narrated as Poison prattled on at Cody.
"Hm?" Kabal let out in a metallic gruff voice behind him "What are they talking about?"
"Don't know." Kano said on his knees and then rose to his full height "Don't care." he said rolling his shoulders.
"You know," Kabal let out as Kano kept his eyes downwards, but Kabal knew he had his attention "you said we were getting a shipment. Is this it?"
"This?" Kano repeated as he turned over to him but then laughed before he saw him, and his head rolled back "Naw mate." he said "That's for the Outworld Jungle."
"Outworld!" Kabal exclaimed but then caught himself "We're going to Outworld?"
"Course mate." Kano confirmed "Business is booming, and I've never been late for an appointment." he said shaking a finger.
"Then why are we here and not there?"
"Wa this?" he asked looking down at Cody and Poison who had now circled around him to come to the other side to speak into his other ear though it yielded the same results "This is just a pit stop." He said leaning back to him You ain't too fast to ditch those right?" he said tapping him playfully on the chest.
"A pit stop? For what?" Kabal asked feeling his question never went answered.
Kano's red eye gleamed hellishly down at them "Cutting out the competition." Before Kabal could say anything or object Kano shot his laser out down at them.
"I'm just sayin." Poison said as she continued to prattle on, practically scold Cody who wasn't interested "You could use a few pointers to make a girl feel appreciated."
"I'll keep that in mind." He said disinterested.
"Don't let me remind you," she began but Cody had already let out 'How could I forget' "I've been here this whole time while you're still waiting for Guy."
"You're right, but" he admitted as he turned to focus on her "That doesn't mean I still trust y-"
"Look out!" Poison exclaimed as she dived at him tackling him and taking him to the ground. And she did at just the right time for a hellish red beam of light shot past them and would have shot through them had she not moved them. Red light radiated off the blast and onto them as it tore into the ground and the railing where they just were.
Cody looked up past her in shock. And as suddenly as it had appeared it had disappeared again allowing the natural mugginess of the city to return. Ready for action Cody and Poison got to their feet quickly helping each other up.
Landing behind them came two sudden 'thuds'. One followed by a chuckle, the other with a metallic 'shink'. Looking over Poison and Cody saw two unscrupulous characters eyeing them. They said nothing to them for they spoke to each other.
"Didn't line up your shot?" Kabal quipped at him though Kano found it funny as he only smirked. And the anger from Cody and Poison only made it grow wider.
"You!" Cody snapped at them pulling his fists out ready to fight "What are you doing!"
"Causing trouble!" Poison said.
"Oh just sight seein." Kano replied smugly as he sauntered forward scratching his black beard "Heard tourism been up fer this place and it's always on my bucket list."
"You're about to kick that bucket." Cody said.
Kano grinned showing his teeth "Well I've been known to mix business and pleasure. So, I figure while I enjoy myself, why not take care of some pests so they get out of my way."
"Well, I'm the mayor's secretary!" Poison snapped coming forward a step past Cody and pointing her whip out to him "And the only appointment you have is for an ass kicking!"
Kano smirked "You Mad Gear aintcha?"
"Former." she said with a bow.
"Tsh. Doubtful." he shot at her, which caused her to rise up in anger "You can't change what you are. No one can." His glee grew as Poison became visibly angered by his words. But he didn't realize Kabal beside him had bowed his head remorsefully hoping to keep out of this conversation. "Not you or him." he said nodding from her to Cody.
"But I can fight you!" she shouted as she ran towards him whip in hand. Gleefully Kano braced himself for her as she charged him.
But as Poison charged and was about to strike down on him, she found herself caught off guard as a giant metal look was swung at her. She skidded to a halt, ducking under one as another came up at her. She pivoted on her feet to snap her right side forward. The two metal hooks swerved around as she did, and she found herself pushing against Kabal, who had come to Kano's defense.
"Easy lady!" he snapped "No need for this to go any further!" he warned.
"Says you!" Cody snapped over Kabal's shoulder and looking away from Poison, he saw Cody charging him his reared back fist swinging forward to his him in the face.
But at the last moment Cody's fist was caught as Kano had jumped forward to catch it before it could hit him.
"No one punches me mate!" Kano said as he gripped his fist with crushing effect. Then he pushed off of Cody right as Poison pushed Kabal back. With those two pushed away it was just the two of them side by side. Then she swung at Kano who ducked under the blow to strike at her. With him focused on her and his back to Cody, he came back forward with a kick. It would have his Kano in the back of his head had it not been caught in the hook swords of Kabal who quickly reemerged.
"Geez you guys don't take a hint do ya?" Kabal nagged.
"Neither do you!" Cody pushed into him "Get out of my city!" Cody snapped as he swung his leg managing to get it out Kabal's hook. Kano then jutted his elbow back at him, which he side-stepped around to come beside Poison. But following them Kano then shot both his arms out as two long and sharp Butterfly knives flew at them. "Duck!" Cody said as he grabbed Poison and brought her down to the ground as the knives flew over them. The danger passed overhead faster than the laser had and the two then shot back up to their feet squaring off across from the other two.
Cody was ready for another fight, to take both of these crooks on. But as determined as he was, Poison wouldn't let him forget one crucial detail.
"Aww.. you saved me now." Poison swooned, but he was too focused on them.
"Your city huh?" Kano mocked "This place." He paused to look around. He took a sharp quick whisp of it before rearing his head back to spit. After that was done, he turned back to them "Tell ya what mate. I'll give you a hint of what's ta come. When I'm done with you and all of this," Kano said stretching his arms out for them to see "this is gonna be the Black Dragons new Headquarters."
"That's not gonna happen." Cody said.
"Yeah! We won't let it." Poison said beside him.
"Tsh." he said as he twirled two knives in his hands "Then you'll die."
Kabal let out a sigh next to him "I guess diplomacy was never an option."
Sub-boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Cody and Poison
The bay had become less crowded since they drove those last two off. One was almost too fast to catch, but if they were gone it didn't matter. And now that they were he could cross if off his list. He had been through every part of the city and so far, had beaten back every invader there was. And Poison was with him the entire step of the way.
But that didn't mean they were done.
Standing with his head bowed, the bay and muggy skyline behind him, the war torn Metro City before him he took in a deep sharp whiff. And he caught the smell of something. Something that didn't belong.
"You smell that?" Cody asked aloud.
Following his lead, Poison rose to her tippy toes and took in a deep breath. Though she was much more at ease about what she smelled.
"Smells like the sea." she said looking out to the bay.
"Smells like piss." Cody replied looking to the ground and hear a soft wet splat beneath his shoes. Picking them up he heard more trickles of drops from beneath it.
Placing the whip behind her head to balance it off her shoulders Poison swayed beside Cody "So what's next Mister Mayor?"
"Wherever the next problem is."
Poison titled her head curiously "You think those guys are gone?"
"Them? Maybe.." he answered as he brought his head up to look around, unsure of them exactly but sure of something else "but others will follow.." he paused as something- no someone caught his eye "Case in point."
"Huh?" she let out before she followed his line of sight and that's when she saw it for herself.
Coming out of a darkened trash filled alley was a kneeling terrifying sight. It looked like a shaggy dog before it raised up to stand on its two feet and that saw it was in fact a man or some semblance of it. But it reminded Cody of all the other freaks, invaders and weirdos he had come across. Lumping this one in with all the others, his answer to him was clear. 'Get the Hell out!' And he would have said it too, had Poison not beaten him to it.
"Hey!" she snapped as she flung her arm and the whip forward "I didn't schedule you for an appointment!" Nodding in approval beside her Cody then stepped up with her.
"No intruders in my city." Cody warned.
"You heard the mayor!" Poison snapped "Get lost!"
"Youuu- you fight against overwhelming odddsss." Necalli growled.
"Yeah!" Poison admitted "We make a pretty good team." She said with shrug.
"But you cannot go any furtheeeerss." He rumbled to them "Save to quench myy hunnngaarr!"
Cody slammed his foot down as he took a step forward "It's you who won't go any further!" he said as he dropped his finger to turn it into a fist "Time for you to get the hell out!"
"Yeah!" Poison cheered beside him "Time to evict your ass!"
Necalli roared at their boast and charged them.
Sub-boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Kano and Kabal
Rearing his head back Kano's arm followed with a bottle that he swallowed like it was water.
Of course, it wasn't water.
Once he was done, he brought his head back up and unleashed a burp the second the bottle was removed from his mouth and discarded the bottle. From beside him Kabal's head remained in place as the bottle passed by him to land on the ground and shatter.
"Can't say I'm sure there's littering laws here." Kabal commented observantly as they made their way across the bay. They ended that last fight on their own terms and Kano was sure they wouldn't have to deal with them again. Not it was onto the Outworld Jungle for their business deal. And if anyone else got in their way… well, they wouldn't after that.
"More the pity." Kano said sardonically. Once he was done with that, he raised his phone to his ear to talk some more into the phone. He was so focused on that that, he didn't notice Kabal texting someone beside him. "So, like I was proposing." Kano said into the phone with a smooth rugged grit that only he could pull off "What's say we sweeten this deal a lil bit, eh?" his voice began to turn lecherous. Someone on the other end must have spoken approvingly so he went further "Well we'll see how much of that price you wanna take off deepening on how much you can take yerself." he finished with a laugh grabbing his crotch for extra emphasis as if she could see him, yet Kabal heard an evil cackle on the other end of the line that made his shudder "It's a date and a deal then." He finished more menacing now to match the woman's voice Kabal heard. Then Kano put his phone away, and they continued on their path.
Then despite heading straight along the bay fence he suddenly changed course and went back inland. Kabal stopped letting him pass by as he did the beer bottle but followed him with his head.
"Whatt're you- Kabal asked as Kano came to a stop before a shop that read 'Abigail's' and brought his arms down to his waist. Hearing the sound of unzipping, Kabal snapped his head away so fast he might have broken it, just the sound of running water blasting against the metal gate could be heard.
From behind him a loud relived groan escaped Kano.
"Give that lil twerp something to remember me by!" he said over his shoulder as Kabal remained turned away "Look!" he then cried happily "I'm writing my name!" he said shaking his waist though it never enticed Kabal to look over.
Only once the sound finally stopped, the zipper went up and Kano's footsteps were heard again did he turn back. Right as Kano rejoined him.
"Are you done?" he asked.
Kano laughed it off and patted him on the back "Course we are!" he said as Kabal eyes where Kano had touched him, knowing that he did not or even have any way of washing his hands since he left to relieve himself "You know for a guy who's fast you sure are impatient."
"Tired of waiting for everyone else."
"That's the spirit!" Kano grinned before slapping him again this time with his other hand and this time once he gripped him, he did not remove it "Finally coming around to stopping to smell the roses, eh?"
But Kabal wasn't focused on Kano, his voice or the hand that gripped him. Instead, Kabal looked past Kano's shoulder to see a shadow slink across and rise from the ground.
"Not exactly." He shook his head.
"Eh?" Kano let out confused. Kabal didn't elaborate but nodded off past Kano. Following his motion Kano turned and when he did the shadowy figure had emerged from the ground, revealing a red skinned demonic semblance of a man. Despite it's ferocity and animalistic nature neither were really frightened or even surprised.
"Tah!" Kano spat "Tourists."
"All I see is another problem." Kabal said stepping forward.
"What this one?" Kano asked looking back to him "He's a pushover."
"I don't think so." Kabal warned "everyone else travelled together. He's alone."
"Then he'll fall twice as fast." Kano said flicking his hand as he twirled his butterfly knife in it.
"I've come for your souls."
"Souls" Kano repeated mockingly "Sorry not in the business for tat!" he said scratching his chin with his knife "But!" he said sharply stopping it and brining it out "Always room to broaden the market."
"Yyourrs will be mine."
"Sorry using it at the moment. But there's some two kids a but ways back who wanna give theirs up." He nodded back to where he last saw Body and Poison. His words only cased a tremor of anger to go across Necalli's face as he turned to Kabal.
"Youu" he hissed "You are not allll like himmm.. conflicted." His statements seem to worry Kabal who stepped up quickly drawing his hook swords before he could say more, or Kano could question it.
"What the hell is he prattling on about?" he asked as Kabal hooked the swords together.
"Who cares." Kabal answered "Let's just get rid of him and be on our way."
"Now that's the Kabal I know." Kano said stepping up "One last pit stop." Kano grinned as he took his place beside Kabal as each bore their weapons and Necalli who began to walk towards them.
The only thing that made Kano happier than fighting alongside Kabal again was seeing Necalli trudge towards them. For he had to cross Kano's puddle of piss to do so.
Cody and Poison Ending
He was initially aware of it when it happened. He couldn't see it clearly in the beginning, since there was so much fog and pollution hanging over the city. He couldn't tell if the sky was cleared or not, or if it was a jungle neighboring his city, a military base, hell turned over or anything in between.
But what he did notice was less and less of those freaks who didn't belong. It was like magic. One second, they were there and the other 'poof'. Gone like rats. But at least the rats remained. They belonged here at least.
He wasn't truly at ease until he looked out of his office, the mayor's office and saw his city. It was badly damaged, with crumbling buildings, crime sprees and fire still being put out. But one thing was clear.
But this invasion was over, and he breathed a sigh of relief at that.
But his job wasn't over yet as he was about to be reminded.
Rearing his head back and towards the ceiling Cody closed his eyes and let out a breath, as he tucked his hands into his pockets. Whatever it was- and it sure was something- it was over. He stood his ground and fought for his city, defending every block and beating back every invader.
Easing back into his chair he took in the comfort of it as he reclined deeply into it. Swinging his feet on the ground, he swung the chair like a swivel, rotating it 180 degrees so he came to sit behind his desk as he normally would. Once he was there, he placed his feet on the edge of the desk stopping his rotation abruptly. Leaning back further and stretching his legs out he crossed them.
He looked as if he was about to fall asleep and very well might have, had a screeching voice not woken him.
"Here ya go, Mista Mayor!" Poisons voice exclaimed beside him as he shot open his eyes just in time for her to throw down a very tall and neatly assembled stack of papers, which once they passed from her hands to his desk scattered like embers in the wind all around his office.
She placed her hands on her hips and stood dutifully by his side. But taken aback by her actions, and her very much still being here he eyed her strangely.
She stood there with a big dumb accomplished grin on her face. But when all she heard was silence and not a single 'Thank you' she turned her head down to see him sizing her up.
"Wha?" she asked "Didn't you hear me? You got more work to do?"
"What the hell are you still doing here?" he asked.
"What kinda of a secretary would I be if I let the mayor get behind on his paperwork." she replied chipperly "Don't forget we gotta get you a new suit too." she said brining a hand down to outstretch a finger to ruffle it on his shoulder "This one has seen better days."
"I don't remember hiring you." he said flatly.
"You don't remember?" she asked shocked though seemed like she was playing it up "I was by your side through this whole thing. Defending Metro City from all the would-be invaders." she said with sweeping gestures of her arms and proud motions of her voice "And where was Guy while you were doing all that?"
Cody had to admit she had him there, but there was something else to acknowledge too. Speak of the Devil right as she brought him up, the very person he was waiting for this entire time bursts through the door, startling Poison and taking Cody very much by surprise though he still didn't rise from his seat.
"CODY!" Guy exclaimed "I got here as quick as I could!"
But his cries of support seemed to have fallen on deaf ears.
"Right here." Cody answered Poison under his breath as the startlement from his abrupt arrival passed and he fell back into his seat.
"Excuse me!" Poison shouted defensively "But the mayors not seeing anyone unless they have an appointment." she said breaking her whip out and tapping it into her hand "So if you don't have one and you won't leave, I'll have to throw you out."
Despite her threat, Guy didn't seem very threatened. In fact, he seemed surprised.
"Why are you here?" he asked, mimicking Cody's question whether he knew it or not.
"I'm his secretary and his bodyguard." she stated adding another job to her resume. In reply Cody rolled his eyes from his chair.
"Your services aren't required now that I'm, here." Guy told.
"But you weren't here. Hm." Poison huffed out as she broke out of her stiff posture to cock a hip to one side and put her hands on it "Better late than ever I suppose." she began "But to come after all the fighting's done." she scolded him. Cody did not come to his defense.
Unnerved by this guy took a step closer "The road was perilous alone." he said with firm resolve.
"Shoulda made new friends then." Poison said sticking her tongue out at him.
"Allies were few to come across. So, I went with one I knew I could count on." he said looking to Cody who looked more and more comfortable the longer he sat in that chair. But remained silent.
"Well, it doesn't matter if you were quick or not." Poison said "Because our mayor" she threw two hands out to display them at him "Took care of this town street by street and block by block" she said taking a seat on his desk next to his feet "and I was with him the whole time." she crossed her legs to mimic him slightly "until there was nothing left."
"Nothing left?" Guy repeated "You meant it's over." he asked shocked.
"Afraid so." Poison said, relishing in the clear puzzlement that was coming over Guy.
"Afraid?" Cody repeated glumly finally bringing himself into this "You wanted more?" he scolded her, and she shifted from his gaze and inched off of his desk, putting a leg out on the floor to balance her.
"Well..." Guy paused "I guess I'm glad you're alright." he said looking past Poison and to Guy "And that you got through it on your strength."
"Yeah.." Cody said in a low voice, agreeing with the sentiment "must've been some journey you went through on your own. Must've been hell. Wanna share?" Cody asked.
"If there are no more intruders here. I've love to." Guy said stepping forward.
"I mean you're still here." Poison said taking a step towards him and ready to act on her initial threat to him.
Guy was about to retort to her but stopped for a tapping sound was heard now. Loud and heavy like a hammer chipping away at something, but distant and echoing up to them. Alerted they all looked around finding no source of the sound, until finally they all looked to the closed doors that lead into the office.
The doors were closed, so they could not see what was coming, but they all concluded that it was something.
"Guy..." Cody began "I thought you said you came alone."
"I did." he told. But clearly that was not the case.
"Seems you were followed" Poison said "So who is it?"
"We'll find out." Cody said on edge as the doors opened.
Kano and Kabal Ending
He pushed aside a thick jungle leaf only to be swatted in the face by another. A metallic grumbling came through his mask.
"Hm?" Kano let out gruffly from ahead of him oblivious that as he was making his way through the jungle, he wasn't clearing a path for Kabal so much as pushing more things in his way. "Ya know for a fast guy yer moving pretty slow." he commented back to him "Ya getting older? Or ya just not eating right?"
"Kano-" Kabal let out a heavy breath "How much farther?"
"And you're still always in a hurry, even if you can get there first." Kano said before a smirk "It's right up here." he said before he pushed through another tall jungle leaf. Seeing it coming this time Kabal ducked under it coming back up as it passed behind him. With that out of the way, he saw the path ahead. The jungle thinned out into a small clearing void of trees or any more of this overgrown leaves or dangling vines. All he saw was Kano standing proudly within it.
Grumbling to himself still Kabal stepped out into the sunshine, the metal frame around his body shining once it overtook him. He walked forward reaching Kano's side.
"uh.. Kano." he let out once he got there "Are you sure about this? What are we-" Kano put an arm up silencing him when he saw from the other side of the clearing at the very edge of it the bushes rustle. Kabal went on edge as his red tinted eyes peered towards it. Kano, however, did not seem worried at all but intrigued, leaning in for a better view of what was to come.
The rustling continued until springing out from the jungle and landing on her hands and feet which spread out onto the ground, hunkering down like some nimble animal.
Her face turned up to see the two of them looking at her. At that moment a predatory grin flashed across her face, and her left eye glowed purple. In reply, Kano's glowed red.
Running a tongue across her teeth, she hopped back up onto two feet before leaving only on one as the other crossed itself in the air to dangle next to it.
"Kano.." Kabal's voice stressed behind him.
"Relax big guy." Kano slapped him on the back "I'll handle this." he said pulling his belt up, licking his hand and running it through his hair "Besides I saw her first." he said sharply as he sauntered forward leaving Kabal only perplexed.
"Wha?" he asked but Kano eyes were ahead as he left him behind.
Across from him the woman did the same rolling her head as the distance between the two closed. Their steps slowed as they came closer together.
"So.." he began dragging out the word as the two crept closer "You must be Juri."
"Kano." she replied in a husky thin voice.
"The one and only." he said opening his arms before brining then back in as his eye focused on her close up "Gotta say." he began as he looked her up and down before locking onto her face "You got beautiful eyes, luv " he complimented smoothly as his glowed red. Her face shined from the glow and only replied with her glowing purple which mixed with the red radiating from his.
"You wanna see it up close?" she said as she slunk forward and he mimicked her "To me, you look more like a leg guy!" she suddenly swung her leg up to hit him in the head. All the way behind them Kabal bolted into action sprinting across the jungle clearing and clearing it right as her leg was going to hit Kano was just stood where he was the entire time.
But right before Kabal was about to interject, his arm outstretched to grab at Juri's leg he saw it had stopped on her own brushing up against Kano's head.
"Ohh" he purred "I'm liking em more and more." he said as he brought an arm up and extending two finger from his hand walked them down the length of her leg to reach her. "'Specially when a lady plays rough." Then he grabbed ahold of her shoulder and pulled her up to him. "Up close and personal." he said breathing hotly onto her. In reply Juri ran her tongue across his face and brought her other leg up, and they wrapped around Kano. Her legs clenched onto him, holding her in place as her torso hanging from his body, stretching her body out to poke her chest up at him and her head bent back down.
But as she looked upside down at everything else, she saw at this point a man encased metal and covered in burns staring at them. Her head bobbed to one upside down side as he remained blankly starring at her. Swinging her body back up she got a better look at him.
"And what the hell are you supposed to be?" she asked spitefully.
"He's me mate?" Kano replied cheerfully as Juri's legs unwrapped around him and came back to the ground. She then slid her body up and past him as she now faced Kabal whose blank eyes starred judgmentally at her, as if she had to impress him.
"What's his problem?" she asked as she leaned back into Kano like he was a wall "He like to watch?" she chided and laughed evilly at it.
He leaned over her shoulder brining his face to her "That ain't a problem, is it?" Juri then brought a hand up to twirl it through his beard.
"Not if he's not gonna join in."
Kabal didn't hear the reply from Kano. He just remained staring blankly and silently at them trying to register what it was as they played off and with each other and wishing that for just one he really did lose his sight when he gained his powers. "Hope he doesn't have a problem keeping up." she said, and it made him shiver in his metallic shell. Kabal had long lost the ability to close his eyes, but he wished more than anything that he could now. Seeing then entangled now made all the things he overheard Kano say con their journey come to life before his very eyes and he shuddered at it his metal braces rattling as he did.
It made Kabal realize he would have to take charge if he was to end this. For just as Kano wanted to get something out of this- more than Kabal initially realized or that Kano let on- Kabal was here for something too.
And right not it was to get out of here as quickly as possible.
"If you're just about done talking." he said stopping the further entanglement of Juri and Kano "You've talked up your product a lot."
Snarling Juri hopped off Kano and headed to Kabal "You're pretty slow in the head if you think you can talk to me like that."
"So, prove him wrong." Kano said crossing his arms, seemingly agree with him and coming to his defense.
"I intend to." she said bending down to pounce as Kabal reached back up for his hooks.
"With the product." Kano said and Juri stopped in her crouching position, her arms high above her head as if ready to swipe up at Kabal. The two eyed each other, waiting for the other to move. For Juri to attack and for him to dodge. But instead, she dropped her arms.
"Tsh." she said as she lowered her arms down to lay on her knees "Take a look for herself."
Wary of her Kabal wasn't sure how to take that. He heard mechanical grinding beside him and turned his eyes from Juri for a moment only to see a cyborg, made in a woman's likeness pop up beside him.
"Ah!-" he let out sharply as he turned towards it and backed away extending his swords to it. But the robot just remained in place as it watched him with a cold stare. Worse still was several more popped up not only at its sides but around them.
Juri let out an ugly cackle at Kabal's reaction "And here I thought they'd be more your type!" she laughed. But someone else was just as intrigued by what was going on.
"Oh" Kano said stepping up past Juri and Kabal to view the robot "Lin Kuei." he stated "I know the metalwork anywhere."
Behind him Juri hopped back to her feet "That's not gonna be a problem, is it?"
"Course not." Kano said as she slunk up beside him "So long as they can fight." he said raising a fist to clench it tightly, looking to her and then to the robot beside her. Just as he knew the origin of the framework, he noticed the source of the cyborg's physique as well. "Love the improvements love." He said looking at her again.
"Huh, wanna see some in action?" she said leering up at him getting on her toes to bring her face inches from his.
"Two on one?" he grinned.
"Oh god." Kabal groaned behind them, hoping he had brought this all to a stop and now hoped for another saving grace.
His prayers were then answered.
"Freeze!" a woman's voice shouted. The three of them turned their heads in alarm.
Suddenly erupted from the jungle brush came a woman. One Kano was quite familiar with. Sonya Blade with her fist balled up and ready to fight.
"Hm." Kano let out amused. He turned away from Juri to give her his full attention "Hello love, been a while." he greeted.
"Too long." she replied as Jax came out to join her. But he was not the only one. Chun-Li, Cammy and Guile came out on.
"O, you losers." Juri spat at the sight of them.
"Hm." Kabal let out "Wasn't expecting all this." he said lowly to himself. He was expecting someone but not anyone who was here so far.
Kano was just as amused as Juri was "Making new friends love?" he asked but Sonya just grimaced at him "Fortunately for you" he said as he reached a hand out for Juri "so have I, and we got similar tastes." He said as he looked over to Cammy and Chun-li.
"I noticed" she shot back disgusted "And we're here to stop it."
"Try me." Kano egged her on "Try all of us." he laughed as Juri leaned up beside him and a row of cyborgs made in her likeness followed her.
"All your friends downers." Juri said slyly looking from Kabal lingering behind them to Sonya staunchly before them, licking her lips as she did.
"You have no idea." He leaned his head down to her before she sauntered up a step to Sonya
"Come on blondie." She waved at her "You may sound it, but you sure don't look tough standing all the way over there." She waved her hands and body around goading Sonya to take the bait "And what are you two gonna do?" she asked looking past Sonya to Jax and Guile.
Kano watched on amused, before he decided to take apart in it himself.
"Oh, they ain't worth the time." Kano said before he spit "These two, however.." he turned his head to the two women at the end of the line, looking back up, not at Sonya, but to Chun-li and Cammy again. He clicked his tongue "You come out all this way for me ladies?" he said as the two exchanged shifty uncomfortable glances "Quite the package deal, eh?" he said flatteringly though neither one seemed flattered. Clearly, he was unable to entice them as Juri had.
"Come this way to kick that mouth shut." Cammy replied spitefully.
"Oohh feisty." He purred before his voice began to change becoming deeper and more violent "Well I'll just hafta make it worth your while then!" he shouted.
Then all at once the robots swarmed around them and jumped at the five with Kano and Juri leading the charge as the battle engulfed the entire jungle clearing.
Kabal, however hesitated. This isn't how he thought this would go at all.