The coldness of winter had indeed past New York City since the weeks leading up to the horrific Mortal Kombat tournament. The warm spring air brought out all the criminals that the city had to harbor. Crime had indeed sparked, and the streets couldn't be anymore dangerous. This didn't stop the blind swordsman Kenshi from roaming down a dimly lit, brick floored alleyway though. He walked with his head down. The bright signs above flashed off of his blindfolded face unbeknownst to him. The further, and further Kenshi walked, the more he heard whispers, and soft laughter at the end of the alley. In front of him he could sense a small group of homeless looking people surrounded around a burning trashcan. He listened closely as he noticed their voices dropped the closer he got. He would then sense their eyes watching him both cautiously, and curiously as he walked by. Next, Kenshi began to feel the ground vibrating under his feet. Loud, techno music thudded in his ears as he began to reach a small wooden door that lead to a rundown night club. Kenshi's gear had not changed much since the tournament that had only taken place a few weeks prior. He still wore a red, and black, skin tight body suit. The only differences were that his chest, shoulders, and knees had been covered up with more thick, red leather. His trusted blade, Sento, was still resting in a slot on his back. Kenshi reached the front door, but was quickly pushed back when two identically tall, bald, and muscular men forced their way through. One of them quickly pushed the door closed behind them. They both were wearing orange shirts that had the word 'Security' sketched across them. Kenshi was taken aback by their forceful behavior.
"Is there a problem?" He asked raising his head up slightly. The two guards looked at each other in surprise. It was as if they'd never had to dealt with a blind man before.
"Club's closed to the public today. Only VIP's allowed." One of the two giants said with a deep voice. A wide smile broke across Kenshi's face.
"I have a meeting to attend to with a ally of mine. He's in there." Kenshi spoke with a chuckle. This caused the two guards to look at each other weirdly. One of the men stepped forward.
"Look, this meeting will have to wait. Bosses orders are for non VIP goers to be rejected entry." The other man growled. Kenshi's persistence was unhalted by the two men.
"Well I must insist-" Kenshi began before he was cut off by one of the guards.
"Look you're not getting in tonight! Chuck, and I will have no problem beating down some blind guy! You wanna keep pushing us? Go ahead, and see what happens!" The man on the left was bent down, and shouting into Kenshi's face. The people scattered all around the shady alleyway, turned to look at the commotion. Another smile formed it's way onto Kenshi's face. Keshi slowly etched his hand to his sword. The two men both bulked up in response. Just as Kenshi began to slide Sento out of it's spot he heard a door open loudly.
"Chuck, Chester. What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Came a familar voice. The two men, both stood down quickly due to the arrival of this man.
"We're just following orders." One of the men responded. This caused the man to laugh softly.
"Well, following through with these orders the way you are is a good way to get you both killed. This man right here was about two seconds away from turning the two of ya into mince meat." The man stated. Kenshi heard the man shifted his body, so that he was leaned up against the brick walling surrounding the door.
"And if he hadn't, i'd have done it myself, because this man right here is a friend of mine." The man finished. At these words Kenshi reconized the man.
"Now, back inside, both of ya." The man warned crossing his arms. The two giants glared a hole into the man, as they walked past him, and back inside the night club. After hearing the door close, Kenshi moved forward.
"I wasn't planning on slicing them up you know." Kenshi said putting Sento back upon his back.
"I know you weren't mate, but you might as well let them think that. Save ya the trouble of having to mess with them again." The man answered.
"I got your letter Kano. I didn't know you could write in brail. Gotta say i'm impressed." Kenshi expressed with sincerity. Kano was very well dressed up compared to how he usually dressed. He was clean shaven, and had his short brown hair spiked up perfectly. He was wearing a white dress shirt, and a pair of blue jeans that matched the shirt very well. After hearing Kenshi speak, Kano slowly got closer to him. His eyes were focused on the people at the end of the alleyway.
"Careful on the name dropping. My name's good as shit these days with the Red Dragon running about. One mention of my name is all it takes for them track me." Kano whispeared. Kenshi could sense the paranoia lingering in his words.
"Sorry, I didn't-" Kenshi began, but was cut off by Kano.
"It's cool, look we should head in. I feel more talkative around closed doors, and after i've stomached a few brews." Kano said pushing himself off the brick wall. Kano opened the door to the nightclub, and held it open for Kenshi. As soon as Kenshi walked past the door he caught a whiff of booze, and many other illegal substances. The club was filled with topless dancers, dozens of locals dancing on the dacefloor, and waiters, and waitresses taking orders. Flashing lights, and impressive light shows were displayed all around.
"It's not the Dragon Tooth, but it'll do." Kano said enjoying the view.
"Follow me, just up the stairs here!" Kano called out over the music. Kano led Kenshi up a long flight of stairs that brought the pair of them up to a balcony that overlooked the entire dance floor below. At the top of the stairs the two were greeted by a red headed waitress. She took the two of them to a small booth, and they both sat down. The waitress handed Kano a menu.
"Can I start you off with something to drink?" The young teenage woman asked. Kano took a minute to stare at each item on the menu. He eventually slammed the menu down hard onto the table causing a loud thud, that made Kenshi jump slightly in his seat.
"Who the fuck took the bloody sunday's off the deal of the day!" Kano demanded.
"Sorry Kano, Mr. James said they were running low on ingredients tonight, but we have fifty percent off on all light beers." The waitress pointed out.
"Shit, Kira we both know that crap will only get me buzzing at best. I guess i'll have to settle for Jim's stongest Vodka. Leave it warm too." Kano, slowly handed the girl named Kira the menu.
"What'll you be drinking bud?" Kano asked looking up at Kenshi curiously. Kenshi pondered a moment.
"Whatever your goldest rum is." Kenshi said finally. With this Kira nodded, and walked away from the table. A few moments passed before Kenshi spoke again.
"She sounds a little young to be working in a night club." He stated. Kano sighed deeply.
"I completely agree with you there. She's a good girl too. Heart of gold, just a really bad upbringing." Kano moaned.
"You know her well?" Kenshi asked interested in their relationship. Kano nodded.
"Father died before she was born, mother not long after. I found her working in a strip club about a year ago. I asked her why such a pretty teenager like herself would be working in a place like that. You know what she said? She said she wanted to make it in Hollywood. Star in some movie with our old pal Johnny Cage. She said he was her hero. I knew what kind of movies people in her line of work usually go on to make, and being a good guy myself, I couldn't let her do that, so I used up one of my favors with the owner of this joint, and got her hired on. Not the best line of work, but it's better than what she was doing." Kano explained. Kenshi smiled at the thought of some teenage girl being obsessed with Johnny.
"How'd you convince her to quit trying to make it to Hollywood?" Kenshi grinned.
"At first I tried to inform her about the adult movie business, and to my surprise she didn't seemed fazed. Recently though I told her about how I met Cage. I told her if she was good i'd arrage a meeting between them." Kano laughed loudly.
"Speaking of Johnny, have you heard anything about his condition?" Kenshi asked recalling the story he heard about Johnny having his back snapped by Goro in that twisted, dark lair.
"I tried visiting him at the hospital, but the damn nurses wouldn't let me in. I did get a good look at him though. Poor son of a bitch was bound to a bed. I guess rumors are circulating that whatever the fuck that green shit that surrounded his body was saved his life. They think it's slowly reparing his spine too." Kano spoke quietly.
"He got lucky." Kenshi said in agreement. Kano nodded gloomly.
"Anyway, like I said I got your letter." Muttered Kenshi as he searched his hand through a pocket on his outfit. He pulled up a crumpled peice of parchment, and uncreased it out onto the table. It was written completely in brail.
"I'm quite interested in hearing how you learned to write in it." Kenshi spoke as he pointed at the paper.
"My grandfather went blind in his later years you see? The stubborn old man would never buy a phone either! He was one of those generational types who hated anything the generation after him had, so writting letters was the only way we could communicate." Kano remembered foundly.
"You must've cared about him a lot to learn all of that?" Kenshi asked. He was greatly joyed to hear the fondess coming from Kano's memories.
"A different breed my papaw was! He was the only man in my bloodline to pass on the mantle of being the leader of the Black Dragon! He never liked how vicous the clan could be. I was really close with him. In a way I think he spent so much time with me to make sure I didn't go down the path that his father, and my father went down. He was always fearful of hearing about their deaths. He'd be ashamed of how I turned out. I guess i'm lucky he died before I got the mantle of leader. Speaking of which, the old man finally stepped down! Now he's off in the Bahamas parting his wrinkled ass off!" Kano's face was estatic after sharing this news.
"So he gave over the terrain to you with no issues I figure?" Kenshi asked. Before Kano could answer, Kira had returned with a tray full of strong smelling achohol. She placed the tray down carefully.
"Your drinks fellas!" She bellowed loudly
"Here love." Kano pulled his wallet from his jeans, and slipped Kira a fifty dollar bill.
"Oh, Kano you know I can't ta-" She began, but was cut off.
"Of course you can take it. Go on now, go treat yourself tonight. Just don't do anything stupid. Mavado's men are out there somewhere." Kano added as he pushed away her efforts of returning the money to him. Kira gave Kano a big smile, and thanked him, before walking away merrily.
"So how long have you, and your friends been in hiding?" Kenshi asked taking a sip of his freezing rum. He could feel the achohol burning away in his chest.
"As soon as we got back." Kano gulped through his mug. He planted his empty cup down hard, and wiped away some of his drink, that was slowly making it's way down his mouth.
"The figure heads have all taken new identities, and we've all changed our looks. I even got the old cybernetic eye removed." Kano burped, before pointing to his deep brown eyes.
"I wouldn't get far with that peice of metal sticking to my face. I've been held up in a small apartment on the north end of town, and i've been laying low here for weeks. Tasia's been running the main building in my absence. My friend Jarek's been our eyes on the city. He's always been our lowkey guy who never gets his ass noticed. He's been reporting a lot of Red Dragon activity lately. I guess with the result of the tournament they're scuttling about looking for resorces. God knows we're in for a hell of a fight." Kano spoke gloomly. Kenshi knew this far too well. With Shang Tsung's victory in the Mortal Kombat tournament he had little hope for Earth's destiny.
"Still nothing on Raiden's end here. It's like he's just given up or something? You'd think he'd be gathering everyone he can before shit hits the fan, but nothing." Kano downed another of his drinks, and once again belched loudly.
"I haven't heard anything either." Kenshi responded. He took another sip of his rum. Kano gave Kenshi a sideways look.
"I've gotta admit I'm surprised you stayed here. I thought you'd be in Outworld or something trying to chase down that old bastard. I thought he'd be dead by now." Kano's voice was starting to weaking as the achohol was starting to kick in.
"He's not alive from a lack of me trying. I know his location, but it'd be too damn hard to get to him with all of Shao Kahn's army protecting him. By the time he's not there Earth will already have been invaded. I might as well focus on this in the mean time." The thought alone of Shang Tsung made Kenshi angry. The memories induced by that vile man would drive anyone to insanity.
"I know that feeling all too well mate. Vengeance, despair. Did you hear about what happend with Kabal?" Asked a very serious Kano. Kenshi shook his head ,and with that Kano sighed before slowly taking another drink.
"Kabal found his brother after days of looking for him. They were in some abandoned warehouse from what I was told from Sonya. I guess Kabal walked into a trap, and was beaten, and tied up to a chair by Red Dragon scum." At this point Kano's face was full of sorrow. His words were almost whispears.
"They..uh, they- they beat Devlin to death right in front of him." Kano whimpered. His head was turning left to right for something to take his mind off of what he was saying. Tears were pooling in his eyes. They were slowly turning red. His hand were nervously playing his his mug.
"Now the kid wasn't all there, but...but he was good kid. Kabal snapped. We all loved Devlin, but that was Kabal's baby brother. The only family he had left, he was the only protector Devlin had left. I guess he felt that he failed him. Well Kabal broke free from his chair, and killed those sons of bitches. Then he snuck into the Special Forces HQ. Sonya said he broke Mavado out of his cell, and started beating on him. Mavado was getting destroyed, but once again it was a trap. They figured this would happen, and the Red Dragon swooped in, and gathered Mavado. So now he's rejoined the hunt of exterimating us all out." Kano explained lifelessly.
"So what happened to Kabal?" Kenshi asked.
"He's serving life in prison. I guess breaking mass criminals out of jail, even unintentionally is a major felony."
"Damn, I'm sorry Kano." Kenshi expressed with deep remorse for the Black Dragon leader.
"Don't be." Kano gulped slamming his last bit of Vodka down.
"The way I see it, Kabal's only got less than a month before Shao Kahn's invasion hits. My boy's will have him out of there as soon as possible." Kano gave a small smile.
"Good, now i'd like to get back to that letter of yours. You said you need a job done." Kenshi recalled, after finishing his first drink.
"Right, you see I have a very good ally of mine who needs assistance finding his son. The man's name is Brian Dumass." As Kano said this he stacked all of his cups up in a neat stack.
"Brian Dumass as in the trainer in downtown Queens?" Kenshi asked in shock.
"That's the one. Now his son has entered the crime scene. He's been working small jobs for the lowly Viper clan that smuggles drugs around Harlem, they could only hope to be as big as us. Kid's name is Kenny "The Kobra" Dumass, and his father's said he's been missing for a week. Now I usually don't get involved in other clan's issues, but since Brian deals weapons to my guys, well then I have no choice, and since I have been hunted for weeks now I won't be able to just go freely through the city looking for the kid. That's where you come in. You do this kind of work regulary, and I've got the coin to pay you off for the job. You just got to make sure you find him." Kano explained the job quietly.
"I'm going to need more to go on. I need the man's last known locations, places of interest, and any other things you can come up with." Kenshi said boldy.
"I've already got a file handy for you mate. Now once you find that boy you bring him to me dead or alive. It'll be better for me to explain to the man's father if you find him face up in a river somewhere. Also if you feel you're getting in to deep into crime lord territory then you just say the word, and the job is off. Wouldn't want to risk a friend on this one." Said Kano.
"What's the price?" Kenshi asked grabbing his second rum.
"Thirty grand flat. All in cash, half now, half when the jobs complete." Kano said pulling out his wallet. He handed Kenshi his current half.
"Looks like we have deal Kano." Kenshi smiled as he pocketed the money.
"Excellent." Kano grinned in response.