Mech Zangief

The Lair of the Four Kings may have been named for the four generals of Shadaloo, but its main purpose was to display the power and purpose of its leader. For it was his hand that stretched out to take ahold of the earth itself, yet he had more on his mind than just the earth. For lingering alongside that globe, suspended in the air before the other statues were five other round globes. Each one was a realm. And each one was one he wanted to conquer.

That was why he made the device to break down the barriers between them. So he could combine them all into his image.

Bison sat on a throne beneath the shadow of the statues; his own to be exact. Above those four statues and the six circular realms before them was a contract that blackened the entire ceiling as if the night sky was cast over his base. But that was only the device that brought the fruit of his labors.

In his hands was the Kamidogu of Earthrealm. One of a set of six that would allow him to truly blend the realms into a permanent one forever under his rule. But with no time to wait he put his best scientists to work and they had come up with the very device that hung over his head. One that originated here and spelled out into the other realms. Showcasing the reach of his power. And he reveled in it.

A wide greedy grin was plastered on his face as he strummed the Kamidogu of Eartheralm. The smaller blue ball nestled between his pinky and ring finger as the other fingers strummed and clutched onto the larger green one.

Standing off beside him, almost like a shadow come to life was Decapre. Standing still and motionless. She had been unleashed by him when he realized there were those that marched on his fortress. But when there was no fight this was all she did. Waiting silently for the next one. He continuously awaited the Kahn and his Queen but they hadn't appeared yet. But he had entertained several other guests in their meantime.

But with none here now, he went back to waiting. Waiting for many things. For the main threat 'The Dragon King' to reveal himself. For Shao Kahn and Sindel to finally come before him so he may cast them down. For FANG to ally with their enemies only to betray them. For Vega and Balrog to return with a prize he coveted. With something that would only help increase his power.

Ermac.

The silence of his strumming was abruptly cut off as a subordinate came and bowed before him.

"Lord Bison." he declared dutifully. His grin never faded but annoyance came to his face as he turned to them "There have been developments." he stated.

"Have there now?" Bison asked amused "Of what kind?" he turned his head away.

He motioned to the monitor and Bison did as was requested. There were many monitors around the room. Some showed maps of the far off realms that would be his. Others showed fights between various warriors. But now his attention was brought to one in particular.

It was almost completely pitch black, for it was nighttime in the jungle. He did not know if it was an Outworld jungle or perhaps one in Brazil where Blanka dwelled but it did not matter. Little could be made of their spare surroundings beside the odd leaf or tree. But what could be seen were three figures.

One Bison knew all too well. The others were two he was waiting on.

"Ah!" he let out "What is this?" he asked amusement coming back to him as he studied the screen.

There was Shao Kahn who stood tall and mighty. His right hand held his hammer as his arm held his wife who had her own arms wrapped around him. She threw her head back to laugh at the sight before them. Shao Kahn's left arm was outstretched and beneath him as if he was a puppet being held up by green strings flowing from Shao Kahn's hand was Ken Masters.

He was struggling in place, yet he could not move from it. The green glow from Shao Kahn's hand continued to flow down and was cast around Ken's head. It seemed to be painful, and he seemed to be putting up all the fight he could against it.

Now voices came from the monitor. One low and rumbling that seemed to make even his halls shake.

"You shall be my new warrior. My warning to my enemies." Shao Kahn's voice growled to the writhing Ken "You shall go to that fool Bison cowering in his tower. And tell him, a True Conqueror is coming for him!" he roared.

Bison's grin never faded from his face, but amusement came back to it now and it even grew more wicked as it did.

"So," he announced shaking his own halls with his voice "That is his game is it? To use others to try to project his power against mine." he realized. The subordinate beside him nodded while behind him Decapre hardly moved at all. "Well," Bison began again "Two can play this game. Only I can play it better." Bison declared, and he surged up from his seat with a great flap of his cape. Crossing his arms, he tucked the Kamidogu away in them and turned back down to the subordinate. It was time to see what progress FANG had made in the laboratory. "Bring the Mech." he ordered and then turned back to the monitor. His soldier bowed and skuttled off from him as Bison watched what was unfolding on the screen.

Ken Masters had collapsed on the ground after a small green eruption. He lay motionless on the ground as Sindel lay across Shao Kahn's arms. With no signs of life from him, they there. But soon after they had left Ken came back to life, slowly, weakly at first but then stood with all his might and strength on display.

"Fool." Bison said "Can't even wait until the deed is done."

But as Shao Kahn and Sindel left the sight of the monitor, and even Ken began to do the same something was approaching him. Loud, heavy metal clanking that sounded like a great hammer crashing against an even larger anvil. They came in short procession until they finally came to a stop. And when they did Bison turned around.

Standing before him was a great metal figure. Wide as he was tall, glistening like he was sweating, but it was only his metal plating. Centered on his chest The Golden Shadaloo emblem was there to replace the hair that would usually be seen there. Around his hands, feet and even his waist were red to replicate the clothes of the one whose form he took. His beard was triangular like a pilot on the front of an old train and even his mohawk was a bit spiked for deadly use. The only difference between this construct and the one he copied was the two great wings sprouting from his back. Courtesy of FANG.

"You're here." Bison stated. But the Mech Zangief remained standings in place, just as still and silent as Decapre who watched on. Almost as lifelessly as Ken was just a few moments ago. Bison moved closer to the Mech. "And do you know your purpose?" Bison asked stopping before him. Now the robotic form resembling Zangief seemed to stir and answered.

"To defeat Zangief." he stated in a raspy robotic voice "And prove that I am the greatest."

Bison chuckled "No. Not this time."

Mech Zangief could not express confusion so he voiced it "I was programmed to defeat Zangief. To be the weapon to take him down."

"And you will take down many others instead." Bison told and the Mech paused "Behold!" he cast his hand up to the screen where Shao Kahn and Sindel emerging from the jungle to arrive to a city in Ruins. Sindel was now sitting on Shao Kahn's shoulders. "These shall be your new targets." With beady robotic eyes that rolled upwards and processed the two on the screen, it did not take long for Mech Zangief to voice a conclusion.

"But they are not Zangief." Mech Zangief stated.

Bison's grin turned to a snarl "It does not matter that they are not." He had thought something FANG declared as 'complete and as loyal as himself' would not put up a fight when given a directive. But it seemed this robot designed with likeness shared his stubbornness as well. Perhaps it was too perfect a weapon. "For they are a greater threat than he is."

"Greater?" Mech Zangief questioned.

"Yes." Bison answered "And if you were built to be greater than he, then they are a threat to you."

"I am greater than Zangief." the Mech declared.

"Then prove it." Bison grinned feeling he had finally made progress "By beating those greater than he is."

"I shall defeat them all!" Mech Zangief declared proudly putting his arms up to match his wings, boasting with all the confidence that the real Zangief possessed.

"Then go!" Bison cast his hand out "Prove your worth to me!"

Rotating his torso Mech Zangief turned around. His legs rotated around right after and now that he had put his back to Bison he began to march off. With the clanking of his heavy steps, the sound of the hammer and anvil came back again. Pleased at sending yet another one of his warriors out into the fray, Bison floated back to his seat within his throne.

"Now." he announced "We watch the show." he said easing back into his seat, strumming the Kamidogou once again. Decapre behind him, hadn't moved at all or even registered anything else going on.

Emerging from Shadaloo headquarters Mech Zangief scanned his surroundings. It seemed to be a combination of contradictions. Rivers flowed into city streets, skies mixed together like pieces of a puzzle that don't match at all but were forced together. But his surrounding is not what occupied his thought process. Instead, it was who was out there. Warriors. Ones he must face.

"Zangief." Mech Zangief said "I know you are out there." he paused "I will defeat you. Prove I am your better. That I am the true Zangief." he stated never forgetting the purpose for which he was created. For the one he was meant to defeat "I will prove it to all of the warriors out there!" he declared.

With a heavy metal foot raised he planted it into the ground indenting it. Another one followed and soon he was off into the mismatched world.

Cyber-Smoke

Smoke struggled in the grip he found himself in, but found he could not get himself out. Light passed by him only to be replaced with darkness. Haunting woods with faces watched as he passed by, but not by his own will. The feeling of grass and dirt running against his back was felt, burning him the faster he was dragged. Being pulled by his long hair the last thing he saw ahead of him was the retreating figure of Nightwolf against.

There was no sight of his assailant. He thought at first it was since they were battling but it seemed it was someone else. A hideous cackling was let out by a woman.

Suddenly the dirt gave way to cold hard metal. Old dim lights flashed over his head as he was dragged under them. The scrapping of metal against his back felt worse now and his hair that he was being dragged by felt like it was being pulled out. He could see doorframes pass by them, but they felt no closer to stopping.

Then suddenly he heard sliding bare feet before him and then Smoke was hurled by his hair over his assailants shoulder and into a wall. The echo from his blow echoed into the dense but hollow facility.

Stumbling he got back up to his feet to finally see who it was who dragged him all this way. Away from his friend, away from his mission and away from another fight.

A woman in a purple jumpsuit. Her black hair was propped up like horns and one eye was covered by an eye patch. Instead of squaring off with him, she stood on her toes and twisted her body one way and then another, sucking on her finger and watching him with a sadistic grin.

"Who are you?" Smoke asked.

"Who am I?" Juri repeated "I'm your secret admirer." she said running her hands over her body to entice him "I brought you here to have you aaallll to myself." she said wiggling her body even more and ending in a big rapturous laugh. Unnerved Smoke stood his ground but eyed her warily "As if!" she suddenly spat at him "Don't tell me you believed that crap!?"

Scowling at that, Smoke pressed her "What do want with me?" he asked more on guard now.

"For you to help me, duh!" she said "I needed one of you ninja assassin guys since you seem to know this place so well. Two of you guys were already robots and the other guy was harder to get at. So that left you." she winked at him, closing her eye for a moment and yet a purple light shined beneath her eyepatch.

'Already robots.' 'Know this place so well.' Smoke heard those words and instantly looked to his surroundings. A forge mixed with an assembly line. Spare parts- no spare limbs made of parts. It soon dawned on him where he was.

"No!" he exclaimed "Kuai ordered this destroyed. We rid ourselves of this. This place was shut down!" he turned back to Juri.

"Tsch. Not anymore." she grinned.

"Then in Kuai's name and orders, I will defeat you and destroy this place!" Smoke said ready to fight. But Juri wasn't threatened.

"Still talking about him? Maybe you should worry about yourself."

Before Smoke could move he suddenly felt grabbed by all sides and by all limbs. Glancing upwards he saw great metal arms holding him in place. Then they lifted him off the floor and began moving with mechanical precision through the room. Juri watched him go blowing a kiss and waving to him as he left her to travel down the assembly line deeper into the factory. Smoke struggled in the grip, but then he went still.

Suddenly disappeared into a cloud of Smoke.

"Wa?" Juri let out. Suddenly from behind her a gray fist formed and swung at her. She barley had time to dodge it, flipping backwards in the air to land away from Smoke who was now standing where she was.

With distance between them Juri looked him over once again.

"Now you wanna put up a fight?" she put a hand on her hip and waved the other at him "What a joke."

But Smoke had nothing to say to her. He knew he only had to stop her. Charging her again, he reared back a punch. But seeing it coming this time, she was ready. She ducked under the punch and shot up with a kick the sent Smoke off his feet. Then following him up she kicked him again, this time sending him flying across the room.

He did not hit the wall this time, but found himself in the clasp of metal once again, this time it was more like a case that trapped his entire body.

Then everything went black.

That was until it turned gray. Gray like the armor he wore and yet this was his vision which had no reason to look like this. He thought at first it was only the dim gray of the factory he found himself in. But the more he waited, the more he realized it was not. Numbers began to flow by his eyes. Eyes-they must have been eyes since they allowed him to see, yet he felt constricted like he could not blink.

'I've seen this before.' he thought to himself but it felt more like processing 'But that was when-" he stopped not wanting to come to that dreadful conclusion so he looked around to see what has become of this place and where the woman was.

He turned his head more and this time a face appeared. That of the very woman who brought him here. A circle ran over her face and with it he could finally find out who she was for her statistic were being given to him. Her height, weight, blood type, and even her measurements. But most importantly were two things.

Name: Juri Han

Allegiance: Master

How was she his master? She was not Sub-zero. She was not even Lin Kuei! But why was he being shown this? How was it? He continued to ponder this and the strange sights he saw. He felt drowsy, like he had woken up from a dream yet still and motionless.

Juri then raised a hand to tap onto his forehead. A metal sound radiated with each tap and his vision shifted with each tap.

"Heelloooo." she called "Is this thing on?"

"On?" Smoke's voice repeated, but it was different. Like he was wearing his mask, so a bit muffled, but it was clamped on even tighter. But sounding like he was speaking through metal. And he did not feel his mouth move. Juri's grin flashed again as did her eye.

"There we go." she said stepping away from him.

Smoke took a step forward, but felt rigid as he did. When his step ended, he felt a great weight put itself down along with his leg and a great sound of metal banging against metal. Looing down he saw a robotic leg that made the very step he made. Beside it was another metal leg attached to a metal body.

Smoke brought his hands up to reveal not his muscles and arm guards, but two gray robotic arms.

Sensation was not something he could feel right now. Not in this state, but he felt it none the less. For he knew what his fate was. Returned to the very thing he and his friend had destroyed. He thought them rid of it. But here he was as living proof that the nightmare was not over. His humanity had been discarded and cast aside. He was Smoke no longer. He was a cybernetic assassin.

Cyber-Smoke.

Realizing this, Cyber-Smoke dropped to his knees and nearly fell over. Juri eyed him strangely as he did.

He had no feeling, nothing but a profound sense of remorse and failure. Failure that he could not have helped Kuai or Nightwolf. And whatever resembles dread in this terrible form. For this was not the first to serve his friend Sub-zero; Kuai Liang had been an honorable choice and deed. But the other time, before he was still bound to this mechanical form and to the service of another.

Cyber-Smoke remained there in silence unable to process that he had returned to this hellish nightmare. This kind of living dead. All the time they had sought a cure for Cyrax. Yet here he was now, sharing the same fate as him.

Above him Juri leaned her head down to him "Heeyy." Juri called out him "You breaking down on me already?"

Cyber-Smoke snapped his head back up to her. He could not show anger in this form, but he could voice it

"You!" he shouted in his harrowing metal voice getting back to his feet "What have you done?!"

"Tsch." she got back up herself "You already know. What's the point in explaining it!?"

"This is an abomination!"

"This is a test run." Juri answered "If I wanna make more of these things and sell em, I wanna get my moneys worth."

"You are worse than Sektor! His father! Pawning us off like slaves! No I cannot have it! I will stop you!"

"Tsch." Juri scoffed "Like you haven't tried already?" she shook her head "C'mon. Might as well try this out. You got nothing else to do now."

"I still have friends who need me." Cyber-Smoke shook his fist "For their sake and mine I will-" he reared his fist back and was ready to strike her before all of a sudden Juri moved a thumb to tap something concealed in her balled hand.

Suddenly electricity surged all over Cyber-Smoke's body, zapping him in place and preventing him from taking any further action. Lights flashed and flickered all around mixing with his agonizing shrieks of pain.

And as he was being shocked in pain, Juri's amusement only grew.

Finally, she decided he had enough punishment and let go of the button, and he fell back down to his knees. He watched the few pained agonized resemblance of breathing he let out, but otherwise his shiny gray armor remained untouched.

"Now," she began "Are you gonna give me any more problems? Or you wanna go through that again?"

Slowly Cyber-Smoke looked up to her. The circular cursor over his visor went to her again revealing her everything it had before. And her designation to him.

Master.

"What is this?" he bowed his head "What do you want with me?"

The groveling both sickened and elated her at the same time. But it meant she was going to get exactly what she wanted.

"I want you to do what I want. Like a good little boy." she stopped short "Or whatever the hell you are now." Cyber-Smoke's head fell deeper when she said that "And if you get outta line." she waved her hand and what she held. He could see it now. A small controller with a button, that served only one purpose. To keep him under her control. "Buzz."

"This is madness."

"This is fun. And this is what I want." Juri said "If you think about it, you're really my plaything." she laughed though he was not amused.

A hushed metal groan escaped Cyber-Smoke. It escaped from him, but he could not escape this it seemed.

"Will you change me back?" He did not see the look on Juri's grin.

"Depends on how you play for me?" Juri answered, but Cyber-Smoke felt he was already resigned to this. But if he came back once, perhaps he could again.

If he played her game first.

"What do I have to do?" he turned his head up.

"Well, that's simple." Juri clapped her hands and began walking around him. She went behind him and then nudged him forward with her shoulder "Get back out there, champ."

"Out the-"

"Yep." she cut him off "Go back out there. Fight everyone-anyone that you see. If I'm gonna make these things I want them to fight, not be spare parts."

"You'll get that. I can tell you already." he grilled her.

"Well, I wanna see first hand. You don't buy a car without test driving it."

"You'd likely steal the car." he said lowly.

"What was that?"

Silence filled the air. And she received no answer until he turned his back on her "Nothing." he said and with a metal echoing for each step he took, began to walk away from Juri and out of the once abandoned Lin Kuei cyber facility.

Returning to the outside world, Cyber-Smoke found it to be no different than when he first gazed upon it with Kuai at the Lin Kuei temple or with Nightwolf at his Tipi. Scattered skies and far off places right at his fingertips. But he was not going out to help anyone. He was going to at the service of another, under pain of torture. To continue the cycle of violence that would bind these realms together. Nightwolf would be so disappointed in him for that was his very mission to stop. And Kuai...

"Hello!" Juri's voice suddenly called to him from his shoulder. Cyber-Smoke groaned for he thought he left her behind "Does this thing work?" It was now he realized it was a small microphone.

"It does." he sighed.

"Good." she said as she eased back into her seat, looking to the monitor which showed everything Cyber-Smoke could see "I'll be keeping taps on you to make sure you don't try to run away from home. I got a nice from row seat from here."

"Perfect." Cyber-Smoke grumbled disagreeably.

"Well then come on! I want the show to start. And I wanna see blood."

And whatever she wanted Cyber-Smoke had no choice but to obey.

Fight Your Rival! Historic Distillery

He had been on Zangief's trail since he had left Shadaloo Headquarters. Following him wherever he went, and often just missing him by a wrong turn or battle. Because it was not just Zangief who was out here as he was warned.

Zangief travelled with Hakan; something Mech Zangief concluded already proved his weakness. Together they went through many trials and labors. They had tried to breach the gates of Outworld, something Mech Zangief had tried without the aid of another. Both resulted in battles with the green warriors who guarded the castle in the name of their Kahn. Mech Zangief followed on from there missing Zangief and his battle with Reptile and Baraka only to have one with two criminals with cybernetic enhancements instead. Continuing on the trails of Zangief's battle at the Drum Arena, Mech Zangief only ended up fighting the Deadly Alliance instead. More battles and warriors were to be had, but he only showed that he was better than all of them.

That brought him to where he was now. Stepping inside, he observed his surroundings. The golden emblem of Shadaloo was adorned on this place, no different than it was his chest, though at first glance it was perhaps not what where you'd expect it to be.

A great distillery. Tubes ran high and long across the huge warehouse to be connected to yellow tanks on one side while on the other barrels of the finished products were stacked. A control panel was down by the tanks while on the other side there were stairs that lead up to another level. More pipes were placed running all around the building at both levels. By those stairs was a wide open gate to allow him to view out to the lush green fields and the mismatched sky of different realms.

The sounds of bagpipes were heard in the distance, mixed in with the closer sound of sheep right outside the building and very much within sight.

Mech Zangief scanned his surroundings some more. This distillery so far had been the sight of many battles, that was clear. Bo Rai Cho and Shujinko had been told about it after their first battle with their fellow mentors. But when they arrived, they ended up battling Laura and Blanka, which ended for Bo Rai Cho with a full flask and a Blanka-chan to go with it. Havik and Noob Saibot had also been there, with Havik peeing into the barrels of whiskey before mixing the black sheep in with the white and Noob tried to shove their opponents into the tanks with the use of all his clones. But regardless of who had been here, one person was not.

"He is not here." he concluded. Though Zangief had been as had many others. He and Hakan did battle here against Skarlet and Nitara, with the blood and oil from their battle spilling into more of the tanks and ruining the drink as much as Havik peeing into them. Mech Zangief continued to assess the area and he saw only one other person though he could hardly be called that, for though he shined like metal it was not because of armor, but being made of metal himself, though his color was duller.

Cyber-Smoke walked cautiously into the distillery, clanking with metal feet with every step. He hated the sound, and he hated his new existence, but he could do nothing against it. He was just someone else's plaything now. Yet still he held out hope that this nightmare would be over. Soon. But for now he was resigned to this, nightmare or not.

Scanning his surroundings, he was unsure of what or who he would come across. Having come across several fighters and battles already, both at Nightwolf's side and now on his own, he knew better than to walk blindly. His gray tinted vision showed all he needed to see with several barrels and kegs of whiskey and the tanks that made them on opposite sides of the room.

"Wanna get a girl a lil drink?" Juri purred through the monitor before chuckling darkly to herself. Cyber-Smoke shuddered at her voice. How he missed the reassuring wisdom of Nightwolf or the gratitude of Sub-zero. Yet he felt he failed them both.

"Is that what you brought me here for?" he protested. But all he could do was voice it. She let him fight on his own terms-though often picking the fights for him- but should he get out of line she used the controls to force him to do what she wanted.

"I just wanna get a good test run before I turn in the keys." she joked to him though as usual he did not find it funny. Shuddering away he turned his vision away from her as if it got him further away. But when he did he saw something. Something large, metal and hunkering behind one of the large tanks.

"-Wait." he cut her off "What is that?" he peered forward zeroing in on it.

"Tsch." she scoffed "You got the ops. You tell me." she nagged, but it was already hard at work. Scanning the figure on the other end of the distillery, numbers, names, calibrations and pictures of faces flashed by. All ones that were both familiar and foreign, until finally it produced a match.

"No." Cyber-Smoke gasped "It cannot be." But it was. A perfect replica of Zangief, in metal form. It brought Cyber-Smoke to only one conclusion. "He has shared the same fate as I!"

Juri was far less dramatic about it.

"Did he really take my idea?" she asked aloud "Naw," she concluded herself "that's one of Bison's stupid toys." Juri spoke over the communicator. And though Cyber-Smoke could not see her, he could tell a mischievous grin came over her face "Go break him." She ordered followed by an evil chuckle.

"But he is not my enemy, I have no reason-" he was suddenly cut off when a jolt went through his body electrocuting him. He staggered, stumbling down to one knee as electricity passed through his metal body, forcing him into submission. Pained grunts permeated through his metal frame as he was zapped relentlessly all at the push of a button.

"You done playing?" Juri asked as the electricity stopped "Because I'm certainly not." another quick surge went through him. Panting Cyber-Smoke stayed on his knees. But slowly he rose back up and stood straight eyeing the metal Zangief who had now taken notice of him. "Tsch." she scoffed again "As much as I love playing with a new toy, god your weak."

"Kuai would not think so-"

"Well he's not here." Juri snapped "But I know someone who is." Cyber-Smoke knew who she meant for the robotic Zangief was coming forward stomping with great metal feet across the distillery to him. Cyber-Smoke readied himself for what would come next. He knew what Juri wanted, but not if he could help it. As the Metal Zangief came to a stop before him he spoke.

"Greetings Metal Comrade." he spoke in a hollow voice, but with the same rhythm and fluctuation of the voice as the fighter.

"Hello." Cyber-Smoke returned.

"What brings you to this tried and tested battleground?" he asked as they both paused to scan the arena they found themselves in. Organic life in the form of sheep were outside as they scanned through the pipes to see water and vapor running through both.

"Sent on an errand of my own against my will." he told "I am called Cyber-Smoke." Mech Zangief's head rotated as he studied him further.

"Are you created to defeat a warrior named Smoke?" Mech Zangief asked curiously.

"I am Smoke." he answered "What little is left of him." he said piteously.

"Pfff. Boring." Juri said aloud but Smoke ignored her.

"But what of you?" he continued on "Zangief. Taken by Bisons minions to be turned into-this!" he threw his metal hands up to showcase the other metal form before him. "You and I both we are but flawed copies of our former selves."

That seemed to stir something in his robotic counterpart.

"I am not Zangief and I am not flawed. I am better than Zangief. I was made to defeat him! Now I will defeat all warriors to prove that I am best!"

"Tsch." Juri spat "He sounds just like that shadow jerk I met." Juri said. But that actually stirred a response in Cyber-Smoke.

"Hm?" he let out "Noob-" but he was cut off as a large metal finger was pointed at him.

"Have you seen him metal comrade?" Mech Zangief asked pointing to Cyber-Smoke.

"Zangief? The one you speak of? I've encountered him yes, alongside-"

"Yet you are here and he is not!" Mech Zangief cut him off. His voice sounding different now. Metallic and robotic yes, but it was getting more aggressive like the sound of a revving chainsaw. And he took another step closer to press onto Cyber-Smoke having already come to another conclusion "If you encountered him, but are here now. Then it means you are stronger than he is! But I am stronger than him! Stronger than everyone!" Mech Zangief revved and roared rearing his head back.

"There is no nee-" Smoke was cut off as Zangief lurched forward with an open mouth and from it spewed blue flame. One that quickly would have engulfed Smoke as it overtook the entire arena. But he had a way to move faster. Vanishing into smoke itself, he disappeared from his place as the fire overtook it.

Reappearing behind the cover of a rack of sealed barrels Cyber-Smoke looked out to Mech Zangief shooting fire out and covering everything.

"I don't remember Zangief doing that." Cyber-Smoke said cautiously.

"Yeah, that's new." Juri agreed dismally "But where there's fire there's Smoke." she said sounding her more mischievous self.

Then suddenly the fire ceased and jumping forward Mech Zangief landed before Smoke. His head was looking to him as his body faced forward.

"If Vodka Fire will not burn you." his body pivoted to face him now "Then I shall break you myself." he said slamming his two great fists together and then got into a fighting stance. Smoke whether he wanted to or not, knew he could not back down. So he wouldn't.

"If you are not Zangief trapped in this body," Smoke began "Then I will not regret your defeat." he said readying himself for this clash of metal.

Sub-Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Mech Zangief

"Yes!" Mech Zangief shouted as high as his voice box would allow his volume to raise "I have defeated another opponent. Soon there will be none left to challenge me. Then Zangief will have no one to hide behind." he said as he brought his arms back down. He then did what Zangief would often do and bent down to squat, folding his arms and kicking his legs out in a victorious little dance.

The sound of it while in sync was not to a rhythm but to the creaking and grinding of his own gears and metal. But then something else was heard. The bubbling sound of something brewing. And it did not seem like the drink's being made all around him. His scanners blared in alarm and he turned around quickly to see one of the tanks was open. And from inside he saw two yellow eyes glaring at him.

Then they began to move and suddenly pouring out from the hatch were long thick red tendrils that look like streams of blood.

"Haaaa." a voice hissed from inside. A body then appeared slinking out from the hole to slide onto the ground. Its body was sprawled out for a moment before rising up to face Mech Zangief.

"Designation." Mech Zangief stated as he turned to him. He had been programmed with the names and knowledge of all that Bison had of the fighters in the worlds. Yet some he had met along his journey were new to him, just as Cyber-Smoke was. This one, however, was not. "Threat. Enemy."

"I cooommeee" Necalli called as he rose up higher on his feet and his nose poked out from his hair to sniff the air "For the souuulls." he writhed in place knocking his hair over his body and face obstructing it "Soullss that were promised. Soooouuullss of the strooonggg." he droned and paused briefly as the two yellow eyes he had peered out through is hair to gaze at the robot. "Buuutt youuu." his voice lingered in the silent air between them "Yyouuuu have none." he then snarled bearing his teeth before turning his back to him and got back low to the ground again.

If he had no soul worth devouring, then he was not worth it to Necalli. To him it seemed this fight was not worth having, but Mech Zangief thought otherwise.

"I do not need soul." Mech Zangief replied. Flinching he snapped back to him "I am too strong without it. But YOU! You need it to survive. Yet you come all this way to be the one who would turn your back on ME!" Mech Zangief pounded his chest which erupted in a mighty 'Clash!'.

"You have no nourishment for meee." Necalli snarled at him again like an animal.

"But you will have this battle none the less." Mech Zangief said.

"You arrrghh false! Imitation of life!"

"I am the true Zangief!" Mech Zangief declared "You may not want this fight. But I will have it!" For the first time in all this catastrophic event, Necalli was now being pressed by his opponent for battle. Necalli turned around and roared right as Mech Zanigef leaned forward to do the same, only when he did a wave of blue fire erupted from his mouth.

Sub-Boss Necalli Hour of Battle! Cyber-Smoke

During the battle the rockets, shockwaves, misdirected or dodged blows had shattered a rack of barrels behind them. The barrels that were hit dead on exploded, splattering everywhere, while the others fell off the racks as it splintered to pieces. Now the distillery was covered in the barrels, some still sealed while others spilled open all across the room. But regardless of the remnants of the battle Cyber-Smoke was the only one here. Or so he thought.

Cyber-Smoke looked around in the aftermath of that last battle. Knowing it would not likely be his last. Not in this state or at all.

"What a waste." Juri's voice let out at the sight of all the spilled drinks.

"Are you satisfied yet?" Cyber Smoke asked looking to the ground. Shue chuckled.

"Not yeeett." she dragged out the word, and his dread went with it "Guess you're a glass half empty kinda guy...well, robot." she chuckled again at his expense.

"I" a dark low voice suddenly let out alarming both of them "Am Never Satisfiieedd." it started low but ended in a screech. Cyber-Smoke turned around ready for battle once again. And he saw a terrifying figure before him. His grey vision instantly scanned the face peering in through the long strands of hair. But he did not need an internal archive to recognize him, for he had battled him alongside Nightwolf at the port.

Instantly Cyber-Smoke put his fists up, needing no encouragement from Juri this time.

"Souulsss." Necalli hissed "Soulsss." his teeth snapped.

"Jeez." Juri let out "Is this guy still going on about the same worthless crap?"

"You encountered him as well?" Cyber-Smoke asked.

"Yep." she said with a popping sound coming from the 'p'. "And he wasn't as much fun as I thought."

"No soulsss," he hacked "no nourishmeeaanntt." he gagged.

"No." Cyber-Smoke said "I no longer have what you want." he clenched his metal fists "But I will not let you take them from any others." he said readying for a fight.

"Now that's the attitude I like." Juri encouraged him "Exactly what I want in a man-" she stopped short "Not that you are anymore." she chuckled once again.

She couldn't go without reminding him that, not that he needed one. The jets on his back surged him forward, and he charged Necalli.

Mech Zangief Ending

Mech Zangief raised a great metal leg and then dropped it. It did not radiate with the distinct crash of his great weight crushing down onto the ground beneath him. Instead, it was softened and muffled, and then his metal boot dropped further being swallowed into a sea of white that surrounded him. But that did not deter Mech Zangief.

He looked around to gaze at his bleak surroundings. But if the greatest of warriors could not stop Zangief, then the elements wouldn't, especially not the biting cold or freezing landscape. And if they would not stop Zangief then they would not stop Mech Zangief. He rose his metal leg out of the snow, pausing only to shake the snow off it allowing him to see red again. Then trudged forward burying it again before he brought it the other to follow it. The snow shuffled and the ice cracked beneath the immense weight of his leg.

Yet he heard something else too, the creak of bolts and of metal winding. No doubt it came from himself. But he didn't register it even as some alarms blared and his eyes blinked red. He would fight through it, because that's what Zangief would do. So he would do better.

His otherwise bleak vision showed nothing but unfiltered tundra around him. But through that and even his own alarms, Mech Zangief could see something breaking through the gray and white.

A tall statue seated before a castle made of ice that blended into the mountainside. No, it was the mountainside. And sitting before it was a group of people.

Some of their designations he knew; there were Guile and Charlie together. There was the red skinned oily warrior Hakan who Mech Zangief knew to be traveling with his flesh counterpart. There were others now. Tall and lankly, reaching higher than many others was Elena who was just as comfortable here as she was with anyone else. But there were others there. Others he did not know.

One in blue garbs who seemed to embody the cold itself. The other was dressed similarly to him, but he seemed to be shrouded in a cloud of smoke. Off in the background there was another young woman. Dressed similarly to the one in blue, but she was off sweeping the icy steps free of snow and not in the circle they made.

But regardless of who he did not know, or even who he recognized, none of them mattered for Mech Zangief could see they very one he came all this way for.

Zangief himself in the flesh. He let out a great booming cheer as he raised his arms into the sky.

"Go comrade! Go!" he cheered as they watched a match of Elena against Sub-zero. She had long reach, but he had more skill. Easily evading her moves and then putting her to the ground.

"You did well," Sub-zero began as he regained his composure standing over her "Better than others I've fought here." he complimented as Elena shook herself free of snow.

"That is why you are Grandmaster." Smoke praised.

"I can do even better than that Master!" Frost called from far behind them from the temple steps. So far all could be forgiven for not hearing and ignoring her.

"Of course you mean ME!" Zangief declared crossing his arms "I am as in my element just as you are." he shook a finger to Sub-zero.

After he had come all this way Zangief and Hakan challenged Sub-zero who fought alongside Guile and Charlie against him. From there, despite their boasts and ferocity. It became much friendlier between them. Even moreso when Smoke returned with Elena. There it was revealed that some of them had crossed paths before such as Smoke with Zangief and Hakan who questioned where Nightwolf was. Even Frost when she was allowed to get a word in, was remembered by Zangief and Hakan before she was banished back to cleaning the temple as her punishment. Questions of her dark companion were raised as well. But from there sparring matches broke out between many of the kombatants.

And one more was approaching.

"I think your friend needs the help more." Sub-zero said turning to Hakan.

"Zangief!" a metal harrowing voice suddenly broke out through the bleak winter. All turned to see the vast dim snow covered world around them. But they could see the shadow of a great figure approaching.

"A challenger? For ME!" Zangief boasted.

"Another intruder." Sub-zero stated as Smoke came beside him "He will face me." he said readying for his own fight. Zangief came forward to stand his ground next to him. Everyone else stood on edge, ready for what would come next.

They heard more before they saw it. The crunch of snow beneath great weight and the clanking of metal. Smoke alone raised an eyebrow at that sound.

It wasn't long before a the new figure came forward. A great hulking metal figure. One who was made in the exact image of Zangief himself. But one who was lopsided, and whose limbs seemed to be handing on by only a few bolts and screws. One of his wings had broken off and the shine in his metal was gone.

Everyone was shocked to see it, but none more than Smoke. Yet despite that shock he saw that the mech had lost his fierceness. He had been worn down by konstant battle and karnage.

"Zaangie-ef!" Mech Zangief called out though his voice was static now "I've-come-compute compute- khallenge you!" he raised a hand only for it to fall off "To-to-to-to Mortal Kombat."

"Ahah!" Zangief laughed "Flattering as your spirit may be, you're in no condition to fight comrade! But your body!" he exclaimed "How can a body of Iron be so weak?!"

"Not weak-week-twee-no repairs needed. This event may be over. But I am not. I am greater. I am better. I am the true Zangief!" that was the last statement Mech Zangief made when he brought another foot up to step forward, but when he did his blaring eyes once red in alarm went completely black. All semblance of life and purpose went off in him like a switch was hit. And since he was leaning forward all his body fell forward, face first into the snow.

Everyone watched this puzzled at first, but when they realized nothing else would happen unless they did it, they moved their group to crowd around the fall robot.

"What is this?" Zangief scratched his head.

"The cyberization." Sub-zero answered.

"Not unlike it." Smoke answered "But not exactly." He then told again a part of his story. Of his many trials and battles as a cyberized ninja before he was saved by Nightwolf. One where he had battled against this very thing that lay beneath them.

"Don't even get me started." Charlie said turning his head away.

"Yet he came all this way." Zangief said "He had the drive of a warrior. Not that I'd expect any less of one based off me." he said confidently puffing up his chest.

"Poor creature." Hakan lamented "Subsided to an existence like that."

"That's all he was." Sub-zero told. "A servant of Bison."

"Perhaps he did not deserve it." Smoke said looking down at the shattered mech in pity.

"Perhaps," Guile half agreed "But there's little to do now."

"If we can, we should help him." Smoke turned up to Sub-zero.

"Help?" Hakan asked "What help could there be? For one such as this."

"If he had his own drive, then he can have his own will." Smoke said.

"He was created for one purpose." Sub-zero warned. "What is there to save for one like him?"

"We did it with you." Smoke reminded him. And Sub-zero turned his head away shamefully when Smoke said that, yet the quiet reflection in his icy eyes was cast onto Mech Zangief lifeless in the snow.

"He's right." Charlie said turning down to take a look at him. With everyone in agreement, Sub-zero sighed and relented.

"Very well." Sub-zero answered "We shall help him if we can."

And with that it was decided.

"I know the perfect place." Smoke spoke up.

For Mech Zangief all had gone black. He took only one more step and then nothing. His backup generator did not start, his extra power did not kick in and the battle he was built for did not come to pass.

But then the blackness of his lenses opened.

'Rebooting...' it read '...Recalibrating' followed it. A face then appeared above him. A masked one with long flowing hair.

"Zangief?" he asked.

"Over here!" the boisterous voice called out.

"Not you! Him!" he snapped and turned back down to view him.

"Did it work?" Hakan asked hovering over Smoke.

"It has to." another voice said "That's what this place was made for. Let some good finally come from it."

Suddenly Mech Zangief jerked upwards. All who lingered above him jumped back to rejoin a larger group. Mech Zangief scanned them all as they stood before in new surroundings. They were in some type of factory. He concluded it was merely the inside of the temple. Charile, Guile, Elena, Hakan were there. Two more assassins in blue and gray garbs were before them. But standing amongst this group was none other than Zangief.

"Zangief." Mech Zangief stated his voice free of sputter or defection.

"Ah!" Zangief clapped "So he does live."

"I live because I am strong!" Mech Zangief declared flexing his arms which were now complete and not at risk of falling off "Because I am greater than you."

It was at this point that the gray assassin came forward "You live because we helped you."

"I did not need help. I got all this way by myself." Mech Zangief stated.

"Then you remember things differently." he said "Do you not remember me?" Mech Zangief paused to look him over. His eyes scanned him.

"Your designation is not known to me." Mech Zangief stated.

"Because you only met me when I was like you. I am Smoke."

"Smoke!" Mech Zangief exclaimed "How can you be? When we battled you we-"

"I've returned to my rightful form." Smoke answered "And I brought you here so you could have your own chance."

"Chance?" Mech Zangief said as he looked around at the factory. He saw the assembly line behind them. He saw that his body was in perfect condition. Like he had never been touched in a fight before or perhaps never even in one. But he knew that was not the case.

"This place was used for great evil once. A great dishonor to the Lin Kuei." Sub-zero came forward speaking of Sektor "I had it shut down, but by my friends resolve here" he put a hand to Smoke's shoulder "we came to rebuild you. So you could have the second chance that we had when we shared your fate."

"Fate? Chance? I was built to battle Zangief by Shadaloo."

"And we were meant to become cyborgs with no will." Smoke said. Mech Zangief dropped his head in quiet reflection "But now you can have what we had. You can choose your own purpose. Forget all the evil you did for Bison and start anew." he urged him "What would you say?"

Mech Zangief's head remained bowed but when he looked up he looked to the two Lin Kuei before him.

"Hold on right there!" Zangiefs boisterous voice let out. All turned to him "You came all this way for me!" Zangief stated "So you shall have me!"

"My programming is my own now." Mech Zangief stated as he jumped off the operating table to land on the floor denting it and shaking the room "And as my own, I accept your khallenge!" he said ready to fight.

"I think not!" Hakan slide forward bumping into Zangief "This would be the perfect time to show you how great my technique is. By defeating your robotic counterpart."

"He is mine first." Zangief bumped him back.

"You both shall be defeated." Mech Zangief said before his head rotated down to Smoke "Smoke!" he called "With me! Let us show them our renewed purpose in life by showing them defeat." Feeling roped into this but feeling he couldn't refuse Smoke prepared to fight Zangief and Hakan once again only this time without Nightwolf beside him.

"Your moves are well known to us." Hakan warned.

"Let us see if you make good tag-team partners." Zangief added.

Hakan lamented looking at the factory floor damaged beyond repair "What a place this is. I could easily have remade it for my oil instead of machines. Hpmh." he let out "Guess I've seen far too many metal men for my liking on this journey." he said looking to Mech Zangief and thinking of Cyrax.

"Jealous comrade?" Zangief asked "Perhaps if you had a metal copy of your own, you'd think differently."

"I am not just kopy." Mech Zangief said "I am better."

"That remains to be seen." Zangief grinned at him. As they as sized each other up, Sub-zero, Guile, Charlie and Elena moved to watch the oncoming show.

Sub-zero let out a sigh "Thankfully you were not so difficult upon your revival," he said to Charlie who nodded in agreement.

Cyber-Smoke Ending

Though this journey had taken him to many new places, he retraced his steps as well. He saw many new places, bust just as many old battle grounds where he had fought alongside Nightwolf, including the port where they battled Rashid and Dhalsim. If only Rashid could see what he has become, perhaps he would have applauded it. While he mused Dhalsim was likely still with him, he did not have Nightwolf alongside him. He only had one person chattering away in his ear.

"Whadda doin?" Juri nagged in his ear "You're not here to sight see. Keep moving!" she commanded, and Cyber-Smoke had no choice but to obey. He continued on to the sound of metal footsteps and the ground shaking beneath his metal feet. Though he let out a sigh of contempt as he did though it still rang as metal as his footsteps and hollow as he felt inside.

Walking forward in the dead of night, he began to rise upwards crunching the ground beneath his excess weight. It only stopped when he felt the hard metal of solid stone beneath his feet. His gray vision scanned the area before him, yet even he could tell it was something grand. Though he had many battles, this place like many others was new to him.

One great castle stood towering over him. Despite it being nighttime, everything suddenly became as bright as day. It shined like it was made of gold, and matching it was it's mirror image, a reflection on the other side that shined just as brightly and connected by a bridge.

Blinding at first Cyber-Smoke readjusted his sensors to see that it was not truly gold, but was still ablaze with lights. Lights that came from both the castle itself and above it. Looking upwards he saw long strands of light dancing across the sky in numerous colors. The brightest was yellow and gold which reflected down onto the castle and even himself. He glistened and reflected in golden light. Even though he had lost his humanity, even he could stop to gaze at this wonderous sight even if it remained gray tinted in what was his eyes. But even then he could not enjoy it for long.

"What do you think this is? A free light show?" Juri called out to him. Cyber-Smoke gave no protest. He marched forward into and through the castle coming out on the other side to come to the bridge. And that's when he saw it.

The bridge was narrow and was the only road to the other castle. His only means of going forward. And while he guessed it was the sight of many battles, he found that he had arrived in the aftermath of yet another. And there were two warriors standing on the bridge blocking his path. Though they didn't take notice of him yet.

One was pale, and seemed to be constantly grinning, though that was just him missing the skin around his jaw. He rested a mace on his shoulder. The other had his back to him, but was taller, bolder and to contrast with these bright surroundings even blacker than the night. Cyber-Smoke recognized him as well.

Havik saw him first peering over Noob Saibot's shoulder to see him.

"Ah," he let out a breath "a new khallenger." he said brining up his mace up to tap it into his other hand.

"Then they shall fall as we-" Noob began as he turned to face this new warrior, but found unlike so many there was only one before them. And also unlike the others, he was recognized. Noob froze mid-way into getting into his fighting position before letting out a dark chuckle and stood back up crossing his arms. "Come back to me, have you?" he asked.

Cyber-Smoke shuddered in his metal casing. Surely, Noob Saibot, the original bearer of the name Sub-zero before Kuai took up the mantle knew him. He was his youngers brothers friend, but for a time his own servant held against his will to do his masters bidding. No different than to Juri now. The old feeling of terror seized him, and he said nothing.

"You've come too late." Noob said when he received no answer "I have no use for you now. For I have new allies." he nodded over to Havik who waved to Cyber-Smoke "And no use for servants like you." he uncrossed his arms to point to Cyber-Smoke spreading his shadow over the golden light "For you are just a servant." he then raised his arms higher ready to shout to the world "And I am greater then I ever wa-"

"He's still going on about the same crap too?" Juri complained cutting him off. "He's really no different than Necalli or Seth!" she said loudly. Noob went stiff as his arms remained halfway up in the sky.

Suddenly Noob's demeanor changed. His chuckle was abruptly cut off, and his body froze. His beady white eyes widened, caught by surprise by that last voice. But then they narrowed dangerous on to Smoke, glaring at him like shining daggers. His body frozen as if caught in one of his own moves tensed up as he seemed to writhe in anger.

Havik poked up around him intrigued "Was that?" he scratched his head. Noob then took a powerful step forward. Havik quickly swooped around to come before him "No no no." he stopped putting his hand on his shoulders "Don't you see?! It's the opposite of last time." he moved to stand beside Noob as one arm waved to Cyber-Smoke "A mismatched body with another's voice. Just like Seth." Havik continued but hearing that name only made Noob angrier, his fist shaking. Havik then turned to Cyber-Smoke "What has become of you? And where is your friend?" he called. And Juri answered.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" she laughed "That loser was only good for spare parts, just like this one."

"So," Noob began his voice darker and lower than before "You serve her, just as you once served me."

"Maaann." Juri's voice suddenly let out "Did he really just compare us? What a joke."

"And like you it was not out of choice." Cyber-Smoke answered speaking for himself.

"Yet you'd serve my brother with that choice. Hmph." he let out "A waste." he concluded before continuing on "What's her plan then? To make an army of you? Pitiful. Even I saw the futile effort in that."

"Tsch. I've heard enough of this crap even before he popped back up." Juri complained.

"Kuai hoped to save you." Cyber-Smoke told.

Noob Saibot laughed "And you wished to help him? You can't even save yourself."

"What would you have me do?"

"Kick his ass!" Juri shouted "Give him a good one just like I did."

A dark chuckle escaped from his even darker mask. "He will find it even harder to do than you." Suddenly Noob Saibot surged forward throwing his shoulder into Cyber-Smoke who was flung back. As he stumbled back and righted himself Noob's shadow bursts up from the ground uppercutting Cyber-Smoke and sending him into the air. Another then followed it sending him even higher before he began to fall back down.

Falling back to the bridge, it suddenly stopped when he felt something grab onto his neck and held him there. It was Noob Saibot who blackened his vision and held him tightly. And that was the only thing keeping him up for Cyber-Smoke was now dangling off the side of the bridge as Noob held him in his clutches.

"As I told you." he paused as Cyber-Smoke's legs dangled and kicked "Pitiful."

"Wow." Juri stretched "You really do suck." her voice muffled over the monitor as Noob's hands pressed down on it.

Cyber-Smoke tried for a punch or kick, but Noob didn't even have to move to dodge it. His shadow merely appeared and blocked the blow for him. For Smoke he was one again helpless and at the mercy of others.

"You fared worse than she did." Noob agreed though she and Juri remembered events differently "Though perhaps that was to be expected."

"Are you still talking?" Juri spat at him her voice cracking as Noob's grip tightened hearing her voice "Just do the deed and get it over with. If you have the balls for it." Noob crunched down some more, his eyes twitching in anger and Cyber-Smoke fell apart and flailed in his hands.

"It was nice hearing from you again!" Havik called to Juri from behind Noob.

"Yeah, whatever freak." she replied.

Noob then brought Cyber-Smoke in close "You better hope we do not cross paths again." he warned. Whether to Juri or Cyber-Smoke himself, neither was sure. They both naturally thought it was for them. But regardless of who, Noob was ready to cast them off.

He then threw his arm out and let go of Cyber-Smoke letting him fall of the bridge and far down below. The only thing he saw as he fell was the shining castles fading to black and the overcast of light disappearing with it, getting swallowed up by the black figure he focused on as he fell. The last thing he heard mixed in with his metallic screaming was Juri's last words to him over the monitor.

"He was right, what a waste."

As Cyber-Smoke fell, his fall was followed by Noob peering over the bridge. But with him gone, Now once again it was just the two of them on the bridge.

"Well that has to suck." Havik said before looking to Noob "Are we done?" Havik asked.

"Now." Noob answered and when he saw no gray spec of sign of the robot he turned back to Havik "Let's get out of here." he stated, and they turned together to leave.

Far at the bottom of the bridge Cyber-Smoke lay busted, broken and nearly in pieces. A pit was made around him for where he fell. Merely a patch of dirt that would serve as a burial sight. The lights from up high did not reach down here where he had landed. It was only a black pit to be swallowed up in and be forgotten. That was to be the fate of Cyber-Smoke. The lights and networking that kept him going were fading to join the darkness he was surrounded in.

Even Juri washed her hands of him at this point. Her 'test dummy' was taken for his 'joy ride' and now she could go on to make her robotic army in her image and sell it. It seems he helped her out more than he had Kuai who sent him out on this original mission or to Nightwolf who he had travelled and fought alongside.

Yes, he was truly lost and forgotten to the world.

Except for the one lone figure who found him lying there. Someone who knelt beside his body, placed a hand to his metal chest and began chanting.

Smoke let out a harrowing breath and opened his eyes wider than they have veer been. But breathing ones again? Seeing the world for what it was?

Then suddenly the world became gray once again, and he thought he was merely being rebooted to serve a new purpose. But instead he just felt strands of his long hair fall over his face. He moved them out of the way and looked down to his body. The reflective metal shell was gone. Instead, there was his Lin Kuei uniform. Gaps in them revealed his muscles and skin.

He looked around at himself in disbelief. And then he looked upwards to see he was not alone.

There was a face above him. One that was not gray tinted, nor were there scanners to match that face with those in his database. But this face unlike so many others was smiling and kind. And he looked just as relieved to see Smoke as Smoke was to see him.

"Nightwolf!" he exclaimed and he smiled even more when he heard him shout his title.

"Yes Tomas." Nightwolf nodded "I am here."

"What happened? Was it all a dream or-"

"No." Nightwolf shook his head "No dream. Though I suppose you would consider it more of a nightmare." Smoke shuddered at the thought. He thought relieved at first. That whatever it was, was in fact over. But Nightwolf just confirmed it was not. Yet here he was a human again. How?

"What happened?"

"I've found you." Nightwolf said "After we were separated, I knew I could not leave you to whatever fate you being subjected to." Smoke shrunk at that, confirming that everything he remembered truly had happened to him. "And not easily." he chuckled warmly "You Lin Kuei are hard to find on your own, not even counting the state you were in."

"But I'm as I was. As I should be." Smoke exclaimed looked to each of his hands. "How?" he looked back up to him, shooting up as he did.

"For the same reason I was able to find you." Nightwolf eased him back down "The Great Spirit." Smoke starred up in awe of Nightwolf and the reverence he spoke "I was able to find you. But you make you what you once were, it required a power beyond mine alone."

Smoke starred back down at his once again human body "Yet it worked." Nightwolf nodded.

"I have healed you of your wounds." Nightwolf stated before looking up and around. A sour look came over his face. One of serious resolve but of bitter taste "Yet my task is not done. The realms are still in pain, and I have been tasked to heal them." A task that was not komplete yet.

"Forgive me." Smoke pleaded "While locked away in that form I caused more damage. Though it was not my intention."

"Then I will not hold you responsible." Nightwolf said easing Smoke "But there is still much to be undone. And much that I must do." he said as he got up. But found he was not alone in doing so.

"You did not set out alone." Smoke said as he rose with him.

Looking at him, Nightwolf smiled again "Then we shall set out together once again." he stated. And with that said they did just that. They left the bottom of the mountains and glistening castles on top of them behind. They would continue on their journey together so their shared missions could be completed.