Raiden had returned to the Wu Shi Academy once again and was pleased to see much progress being made on the academy following its attack by the Naknadans and the Tarkatans. Raiden approached his good friend, Bo' Rai Cho, as he was busy putting together part of a fence surrounding one of the temples.
"Hard work, my friend?" Raiden asked.
"Nothing compared to your tasks." Bo' Rai Cho replied.
"Your praise is much appreciated, Bo'." Raiden informed him.
"What brings you back here?" The drunken master asked as he placed a hammer on top of the fence panel having used it to hammer the fence down before facing his friend. "A celebratory drink?"
Raiden gave a rare smirk that only Bo' Rai Cho could bring out consistently.
"No thank you, friend." Raiden kindly declined. "I am here to spread the great word that Shao Kahn is dead. Outworld's new Empress, Mileena, had him executed in the Coliseum."
"That is fantastic news!" Bo' expressed his joy. "Hearing that my home realm is finally in good hands is a blessing to hear."
"Is that good news I hear?" Fujin queried as he approached his brother and friend.
"Indeed it is." Bo' confirmed. "Shao Kahn is no more!"
Bo' Rai Cho's shouting alerted Kung Lao and Liu Kang who were busy sparring together beneath the damaged balcony.
"Come again?" Kung Lao requested as he needed to make sure that what he heard wasn't just wishful thinking.
"That Tyrant is dead!" Bo' Rai Cho repeated as he yelled over the balcony and a smile stretched on Kung Lao's face immediately.
Lao cheered as he pumped his fist in the air and turned to Liu Kang who was less enthusiastic. "Something the matter?"
"I now understand that he had to go but I still cannot feel that the blame for his invasion rests on my shoulders." Liu Kang explained.
"Still?" Lao reacted with surprise. "It's the invaders fault, not the fault of the man selfless enough to try and stop him."
"Your preservation of life is admirable," Bo' Rai Cho added. "You truly are honourable for your acts."
"Thank you, master." Liu Kang said gratefully as he pressed his fist against his hand as a signal of respect. "And you too, Kung Lao."
"Of course, my friend." Lao responded as he placed a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Your great successes are quite admirable and for that I am happy for you."
"There are no greater students that I could ask for than you two." Bo' Rai Cho praised.
"Ahem." The intentional throat clearing of a man stood behind Bo' Rai Cho and Raiden sounded.
Bo' used his cat-like reflexes that were surprising for his size to immediately turn to the man alertly before even more rapidly recognizing him.
"Apep!" He called as the two embraced in a tight hug. "I missed you! and you know I say the same thing to all my students, yet I still mean it to them all."
"I missed you too." Apep breathlessly replied before getting to the point. "You sent a messenger to my camp."
"Because I have learnt of Shujinko's current endeavors." Bo' Rai Cho revealed which immediately brought a smile to Apep's face. "Hence the urgency that you returned to me as soon as possible."
"Well what is he up to?" Apep eagerly asked as he finally got out of Bo' Rai Cho bear like hug.
"He has been busy spending his past few years aiding the Elder Gods themselves in a quest." Bo' Rai Cho detailed.
"A quest which the Elder Gods could probably be resolving on their own." Raiden remarked.
"Troubled by the Elder Gods again?" Bo' asked in surprise. "How unlike you, Raiden."
"Apologies." Raiden quickly apologized for the comments made. "I am just frustrated."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Bo' offered.
"No," Raiden refused. "Thank you though."
"Ah, Fujin!" Bo' Rai Cho recognized the God of Wind as he walked past, controlling the wind to carry parts of construction in the careful breeze.
"Greetings, friends." Fujin greeted them as he controlled the wind to gently place down the resources he was bringing across the Wu Shi Academy.
"Have you heard the news?" Bo' asked.
"I overheard it as the wind carried the sound to me." Fujin explained. "This is indeed great news."
"Quite." Cho agreed. "How are our neighbouring Shaolin Temples doing?"
Fujin had been sent to check up on the Shaolin Temples and retrieve anything that they needed.
"Those who suffered attacks are all on their way to a speedy recovery." Fujin assured.
"Even more good tidings!" Bo' Rai Cho reacted in joy, things were really turning around after Shao Kahn's failed invasion of Earthrealm.
"I'm sorry that I wasn't there to help protect our Temples." Apep apologized.
"You were busy looking for your friend," Bo' Rai Cho reminded him. "You couldn't have anticipated the attack. Nobody could have."
"Speaking of which, can I visit him?"
"I told Shujinko himself to pay the Wu Shi a visit." Raiden informed him.
"It was my idea." Bo' added.
"So is he here?"
"No," Raiden unfortunately revealed. "Not yet at least."
"I understand." Apep replied. "I will remain here and help with any rebuilding."
"Your aid is much appreciated." Bo' Rai Cho said gratefully. "We'll be back to our old and better ways in no time."
"I'd like to take-up teaching a new generation someday." Liu Kang stated.
"Great idea!" Bo' said in a great deal of approval. "Someday you'll be just like me."
"Don't turn him away from teaching." Lao jokingly remarked to his master. "I want to get back to training Jin."
"I trust you're teaching that boy the right things." Bo' joked back with a jolly chuckle which followed up his comment. "Ah, but we must return to our work unfortunately."
"Of course," Raiden agreed. "Let us talk again soon."
"All victims of the cyber initiative within our temple have been released from their mind controlled states, Grandmaster." Cyrax informed the newly named Sub Zero. "Along with that is news that the invasion has concluded."
"Excellent." Sub Zero responded with a smile. "Thank you, Cyrax."
"What is our next course of action?" Cyrax queried.
"Do you know of any other cyborgs still enslaved by Oniro's protocols?"
"The factories!" Cyrax quickly realized.
"The what?"
"We have factories used to create cyborgs." Cyrax informed him. "They aren't far from here but there will be cyborgs within there waiting for work."
"They aren't cyberzing people still?" Sub Zero worryingly asked, hoping for reassurance.
"I doubt they are." Cyrax stated. "These cyborgs are confined to the factory buildings, others bring bodies to them, they do not seek out bodies themselves."
"Very informative, thank you." Sub Zero complimented the yellow robot.
"I will send some of our members down to check on them." Cyrax decided.
"No need, Cy." Sub Zero stopped him by placing a firm and cold hand on Cyrax's metallic shoulder. "You've done plenty already, I'll make the orders."
"Thank you."
"You are dismissed," Sub Zero told the cyborg. "Take a break, my friend."
"I will." Cyrax promised before heading away to his room which each clan member used to share one with a fellow Lin Kuei member. Oniro planned for the rooms to be renovated into storage as the cyborgs had no required need for them but fortunately this action didn't see fruition.
"Hun?" Smoke called to Sub Zero in a gentle tone.
"Already giving me nicknames?" Sub Zero said with a smile behind his dark blue mask.
"Look, 'Grandmaster's' only gonna work in bed." Smoke commented lightly.
"Oh you misunderstand, I have no issue with being called hun." Sub Zero corrected and assured his lover. "I'd love to spend more time with you but as the new Grandmaster I'm quite busy and I have some orders to make."
"Don't worry, I'll wait." Smoke stated patiently. "Can I at least get a kiss though?"
Sub Zero laughed. "Of course."
Both assassins tore each other's masks off before locking lips for only briefly but it was still a beautiful moment for the new lovers. They then returned their masks to one another before waving goodbye.
Meanwhile, Cyrax was entering his apartment within the Lin Kuei Temple itself. In the apartment was a living room, kitchen and bathroom with the latter two now becoming useless due to his cyberization making him unable to have the need to eat, drink or use the bathroom. Cyrax was then reminded of the man he used to share these parts of the apartment with, his former roommate and best friend, Sektor. Due to his friend's recent departure from the Lin Kuei, Cyrax felt that it was fair of him to enter Sektor's private bedroom out of curiosity.
A picture on Sektor's nightstand immediately caught Cyrax's eyes. It was a photograph he had taken when they were both normal humans, before the cyber initiative was even in conversation. Cyrax carefully scooped up the framed photo which unlocked many great memories that he had in his past with his old friend. They disagreed with each other heavily, especially when it came to discussions of cyberization, but they were still friends… until now. He missed him already. Cyrax then spotted a rolled up blueprint that was resting between the side of Sektor's bed and his nightstand. Cyrax placed down the picture of himself and Sektor and then grabbed the blueprint and unrolled it to reveal what was Sektor's vision of the cyber initiative. The blueprint showed a simplified diagram of a cybernetic body with labels detailing things such as how certain pieces of the cybernetic suit could indeed be removed as well as there being nothing regarding the slaving protocols enforced by Oniro. Cyrax was even almost able to approve of this schematic as well as it contrasting with the final product invented by Oniro.
Cyrax then went to his own bedroom and sat down on his bed. He felt no comfort. Cyrax sighed behind the metal that covered his entire face. While he was pleased to finally have a moment of relaxation he quickly realized how hindered the experience was nowadays due to his forceful cyberization. He lay down on the bed and still felt no different, and this fact was now hitting him as he couldn't figure out how to relax.
Amongst the Matoka Tribe was a woman busy chopping wood to be used at their campfires, the same woman who convinced Nightwolf to aid the Earthrealm defenders in fending off Shao Kahn's forces. The axe she was using was rather blunt and it was taking quite some effort to cut through the thick logs.
"Need something sharper, Zonta?" asked Nightwolf as he approached Zonta from behind.
"You're back!" Zonta cheered in joy as she spun her head around to see her ally who was offering one of his tomahawks to her. Instead of taking the tomahawk she pushed it to one side and hugged her ally to which Nightwolf returned the gesture.
"It's over now." Nightwolf promised.
Zonta reacted with a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness."
"Were you in any danger?"
She shook her head. "Those things were too focused on the cities… a group of them passed our tribe unknowingly and we ambushed them and caused them to retreat."
"Great work." Nightwolf complimented. "Whatever they were they will not threaten Earthrealm again so fear not."
"You sure?"
"Absolutely." Nightwolf confirmed with full certainty. "Now do you want my tomahawk or not?"
"Oh sorry," Zonta apologized as she had become distracted. "Yes please."
Zonta took the tomahawk off of Nightwolf and continued her chopping as Nightwolf himself took a rock and began scraping it against the old axe that Zonta had previously been using to increase its sharpness to some degree.
"I still have a lot of questions." Zonta stated as she kept on cutting clean through the pieces of log.
"Ask away." Nightwolf permitted.
"Where do I start…" Zonta began thinking of her questions. "Oh! Who were those invaders?"
"Those in Shao Kahn's armies." Nightwolf answered.
"The Emperor of that realm?" Zonta vaguely recalled her talks with Nightwolf about the realms.
"Of Outworld yes." Nightwolf added and confirmed. "He wanted to merge Earthrealm with Outworld, but fortunately we stopped him."
"And if they attack again?" She asked with concern.
"Shao Kahn is dead." Nightwolf informed her. "Their new ruler is Empress Mileena who I assure you is much kinder."
"As long as she doesn't want to start another war…" Zonta replied.
"She won't." Nightwolf continued to reassure her.
"I… just worry that you'll go ahead and try protecting this realm one more time and that next time could be your last." Zonta admitted her main fear; losing Nightwolf.
"Even if that happened then I would never leave." Nightwolf revealed.
"Don't even try with that symbolic nonsense!" Zonta demanded as she began chopping more aggressively.
"It is no false statement." A different voice confirmed.
"Sure." She responded, clearly not believing them.
"Just turn around." The voice ordered.
She did so and gasped in shock as she saw a spirit beside Nightwolf. The tribe was familiar with Nightwolf's spiritual wolf Kiba but nobody had seen a human spirit before.
"Who are you?"
"One who was fortunate enough to in the past receive the mantle of Nightwolf from the Great Spirit themself." The former Nightwolf explained. "When the mantle is passed on after our deaths we can be summoned upon by the current Nightwolf."
"The mantle blessed me with it's power but I didn't gain immediate wisdom." Nightwolf elaborated. "These past spirits have helped me learn so much."
Zonta was so impressed that she was lost for words. "That's… fascinating."
"Indeed it is." Nightwolf agreed.
"I will leave now," the former Nightwolf informed them. "Feel free to summon one of us at any time, no matter what the reason is."
"Thank you." Nightwolf said gratefully.
"Do not thank me," they replied. "Thank yourself and your fellow Matokan, including you, Zonta."
"That means much to me." Zonta said as she had great respect for all of the Nightwolves throughout the Matokan Tribe's history.
"Your dedication and contributions made to the Tribe mean much to your fellow Matoka." They responded. "Now that you hold this knowledge, I will once again say goodbye."
"Farewell." Zonta and Nightwolf said in unison as the translucent brown spirit faded away.
"You've been invited to this short notice ceremony today to celebrate those who protected our world against the threat that we still do not entirely understand." The awards host surmised in an announcement to the audience in the hall. "Receiving the first of our awards will deservingly be the Special Riot Control division in the New York City Police Department."
The crowd applauded Stryker as he, being the leader, decided to approach the stage to claim the award.
Stryker thanked the presenter as well as the audience before beginning his speech.
"I am proud to receive this award but something I'm even more proud of is my colleagues slash friends and the work we have been able to perform over these years since I took leadership of Riot Control Division. But this isn't about me, I am just the voice for the entire Division that I am so grateful to lead let alone be a part of. The details of what we all witnessed in our battles during the invasion will never truly be believed but the emotional and or physical scars will always remain. Take my best friend Kabal for example, unfortunately during these battles he was tragically burnt by a criminal from his troubled past. But I've watched him progress and change for the better and now there is no man I do not respect more than him. Kabal is just one example of the many great people I have been fortunate enough to work beside. Thank you again."
The crowd applauded once more as Stryker concluded his speech and returned to the table that sat a couple other members of the Riot Control Division, including Kabal.
"Damn," Kabal commented. "That was a little too emotional."
"As it should be." One of the officers stated. "By the way, great speech, Kurtis."
"Thanks, Pedro." Stryker replied to him as he sat down with his friends. "And thanks to all of you."
"It's a pleasure to be here." Pedro responded. "Though I wish everybody could have made it here."
"Crime doesn't stop I'm afraid." Stryker reminded him. "Plus some of our men are currently hospitalised."
"Yeah…" Kabal muttered.
"You okay?"
"Just can't get over all this bullshit." Kabal informed him. "And it's gonna be even harder when I look like a dropped pizza 24/7."
"Well you have us." Stryker told him. "We'll always be there to help you at any time, no matter what."
"Thank you."
"Shall I get us drinks?" Pedro offered.
"Please."
"What kind?"
"Surprise us." Stryker requested as Pedro stood up and headed to the bar.
"Do we have enough space in our trophy stand for that?" Kabal asked with his eyes glaring at the award Stryker had just received.
"I hope so." Stryker replied with uncertainty. "We've been earning a lot ain't we?"
"We earnt all of them." Kabal inputted. "Never been more proud of a team in my life."
"I know the company you kept before," Stryker recalled Kabal's past as a criminal. "The competition isn't too fierce."
"I think I earnt my retirement." Kabal remarked. "I'm kidding, I can't stop this all now."
"I always respect your passion." Stryker complimented.
"Pedro's right though," Kabal said as he adjusted his mask, still struggling to get used to the constant need for it. "It's a damn shame that not everybody could make it."
"Don't worry, I already have something prepped for them all." Stryker informed him.
"Oh yeah?"
"I had some medals created for everybody, including you guys." Stryker revealed.
"Well don't ruin the surprise!" Kabal instructed.
"Sorry." He apologized. "But yeah, I'll have them handed out when we're back at the station."
"Here you are, gentlemen." Pedro said as he was carrying a bottle of beer for each officer at the table. "Wait… can you even take that mask off, Kab?"
Kabal nodded in confirmation. They had already established that he could remove all the parts on his mask asides from the respirator piece of the mask which of course caused his breathing, the rest of the mask functioned as general armour to protect Kabal which he had taken off seeing it only as useful for when in battle.
"I can for a bit." Kabal informed him. "At least that's what I concluded when I was messing around with it earlier."
"If you say so." Pedro replied as Kabal took a bottle from him.
"And I think I needa be on a liquid only diet…" Kabal added before pulling down the respirator to take a drink from the bottle.
"You think?" Pedro repeated. "You aren't certain?"
"Haven't had a chance to get checked out yet." Kabal informed him. "All I learnt was what that greedy scumbag… I mean Kano and his creepy doctor told me."
"That dog has a doc?" Stryker asked.
"Somehow." Kabal responded. "But enough of that, please."
"Of course, we're here for a good time." Stryker reminded everyone as he raised his drink. "Cheers, friends."