Neo-Tokyo

Rain poured down upon the streets of Neo-Tokyo, neon signage reflected in the puddles. Kuai Liang pulled his hood and scarf further over his face, but it wasn't to protect himself from the rain. He needed to keep his identity hidden, his face plastered upon multiple screens throughout the city alerting everyone to the fact he was a dangerous piece of stolen weaponry.

Glancing around to make sure he wasn't being followed, he slipped down an unassuming alleyway. Rain lashed against his legs as he came to a familiar door. Taking another look around his surroundings, he hit the buzzer.

"Yes?" A voice crackled from the box. A simple greeting on the surface, but Kuai knew by now the true meaning behind it.

"There are fates worse than death," Kuai replied. It took seconds for passcode to be accepted, and for the door to buzz open. He let himself in, making sure one last time there was no one else around, before shutting the door securely behind him.

He made his way down the hall, where a blonde woman stood waiting for him.

"Welcome back," Sonya greeted, as he finally pulled his hood and scarf down. "Did you manage to retrieve what we need?"

"I did," Kuai replied, discarding the wet coat he was wearing and hanging it on the wall. He turned to Sonya, tapping his temple, "Everything you need is ready for download."

"Good." There was an awkward silence where Sonya did not move out of the way. Kuai narrowed his eyes, there was clearly something she needed to tell him, but was reluctant to for some reason. She cleared her throat, before she finally said "we have a guest. And you aren't going to like who it is."

Kuai didn't ask, he didn't dislike too many people, so it was a minuscule pool of people it could be. He walked into the meeting room, and his eyes set upon the man Sonya had been talking about. His facial recognition software went off, bringing up all the mans personal data, but even without that, he knew exactly who it was. Somehow, out of anyone it could potentially have been, it was the absolute worst person possible. Hanzo Hasashi.

"What is he doing here?" Kuai snarled, glaring the man down. To his surprise, Hanzo almost shrunk into himself.

"Mr. Hasashi has offered us information on Quan Chi's plans in exchange for protection," Raiden spoke, very quickly making his way to Kuai and placing a hand in front of him.

"And you believe him?" Kuai sneered. Hanzo had never shown any concerns for what his boss was doing before now, had happily gone through with the plans, why would it change so suddenly unless it was a trap of some kind?

"I've vetted him," Kenshi spoke up from his spot at the table. "They think he’s here to infultrate us, but his own thoughts prove his real intentions. He's safe."

Kuai glanced around the room, Jax, Johnny, Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Kitana and Jade all said nothing to contradict the psychic. The last person in the room, Fujin, stood lent against the door frame and only offered Kuai a shrug. He was outnumbered it seemed. He didn't have to be happy about it however.

"I understand your frustration," Raiden started again, firmly placing his hand on Kuai's shoulder, "but we need the information he's offered us."

"Speaking of information," Jax interrupted, seemingly trying to move the conversation on, "did you get what we need?"

Kuai managed to just about supress his rage, as he bit out "yes, it is ready for download whenever you are ready."

"Then let's get that done," Jax offered, standing from his position at the table.

Kuai's sensors alerted him to Hanzo making a sudden movement, and Kuai jerked his head towards him. Hanzo stopped dead in his tracks, looking like a deer in headlights.

"Keep him away from me," Kuai requested, his snappiness making Hanzo flinch. Jax just silently nodded, patting Kuai on the back before gently herding Kuai out of the room.

They didn't say any more as they reached a second room, this one with a reclining medical cot, wires and a lot of computers. Kuai knew the drill, settling himself down on the cot. Jax quietly logged into the computer and started sorting through the wires.

"Look," Jax finally said trying to untangle a bunch of wires, "I'm not happy about him being here either..."

"No offence but it wasn't your brother he murdered," Kuai retorted. Jax shot him a hurt look, a little note appeared in Kuai's vision chastising him for being rude. "Sorry. It's just..."

"I know, it's alright," Jax assured him, the note disappeared. "I get it." Jax finally got the cables he needed, approaching Kuai and plugging them into the ports located either side of Kuai's head. "He was asking to talk to you, though."

"Well I don't want to talk to him." Kuai closed his eyes, as he could feel Jax start the download process in the robotic part of his brain. "I don't want to hear anything he has to say."

"Yeah, I wouldn't either," Jax agreed. Kuai felt a file being pulled from his memories, he screwed his eyes tighter and clenched his fists. "You okay, man?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Taking them out just hurts more than putting them in." Sometimes he wondered just why he'd been built in a way where such a basic function could cause him pain, but he had been a prototype. And his brother hadn't managed to complete his work before his untimely demise.

"Wish I knew enough about your cybernetics to be able to help," Jax admitted. Kuai could hear he clicking various things. "I only just know how to maintain my arms, let alone the complex shit going on with you."

"Yeah, sucks to be a new type of technology, I guess." Kuai flinched at a particularly painful jolt.

"We're almost done," Jax reassured him. "You're doing good man, way better than I'd be doing." Kuai couldn't help but laugh at that. "5 seconds left. 4. 3. 2. 1. And done!"

Kuai felt the relief immediately, and he gave a groan. His eyes flickered open, just in time to see Jax hovering over him, unplugging the wires from the sockets. Kuai rubbed his temples, running a quick scan of his vitals. Everything was running how it should be.

"Do you need me for anything else?" Kuai asked, pushing himself off the cot.

Jax shook his head, "Not right now, I'll let you know if I need you again." Jax once more patted him on the back, "try get some rest man, you look like you need it."

"Thanks, I will."

He walked back out, making his way to the meeting room to find it empty. He sighed, leaning against the table and considering what to do now. Footsteps disturbed him before he could, and he looked up, expecting to see one of his allies. Instead he was met with Hanzo, standing in the doorway and staring at him with a look that even Kuai's extensive recognition couldn't pinpoint.

"LK-52O," he started. It was amazing how something so insignificant could make Kuai feel so angry.

"My name is Kuai Liang," he retorted. Hanzo flinched again, yet another little note appeared in Kuai's vision. He elected to ignore it this time. He couldn't care less about the feelings of his brother's murderer. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to talk to you," Hanzo tried, holding his hands up as if to show he was not a threat. Kuai didn't believe it for a second.

"What about? How you murdered my brother?" Kuai snarled, baring his teeth like an animal.

"I killed your creator-"

"No!" Kuai exclaimed, storming straight towards Hanzo, who stumbled backwards. "Don't you dare try and dictate to me what my relation to him was!" Hanzo backed up into the wall in the corridor, Kuai stood in front of him, shaking with rage. "I may be partially metal and wire but I have flesh and blood! Grown from his own, so don't you dare tell me he isn't my brother!"

"I don't understand how you can defend him," Hanzo remarked, shaking his head. "He built you to be a weapon. I did you a favour, freeing you from him."

"I am not a weapon! He didn't make me to be a weapon," Kuai countered, slamming his fist into the wall by Hanzo's head. The brick cracked from the force. "The Lin Kuei wanted me to be a weapon, not him!" Kuai felt tears rolling down his cheeks, his knuckles hurt but he was too angry to care. "You did nothing but make everything worse!"

"The Lin Kuei commission your creation, but Bi-Han was an arrogant bastard and if I hadn't killed him he would have continued to create abominations like you!" Hanzo's face dropped the second those words came from his mouth. "I- I didn't mean-"

Kuai's hand grasped Hanzo's neck, cutting him off before he could try to make a hasty apology. He choked as Kuai's hand started to squeeze down, slowly crushing his windpipe and cutting away his air supply. Kuai wasn't sure which part of the comment was spurring him on more, calling his brother an arrogant bastard or being called an abomination. His grip tightened, Hanzo gasping desperately, clutching Kuai's wrist. He knew if he didn't let go soon that Hanzo ran the risk of asphyxiation, but in a weird way that spurred him on.

A message popped up in his vision that read "if you kill him, you prove him right about you being a weapon".

Kuai gasped and released his grip, sending Hanzo tumbling to the floor, desperately gulping in air. Kuai could only stare at him in horror. He’d almost killed Hanzo. After he promised himself that he would never harm someone, never ever let himself be used as a weapon. He almost broke that promise out of anger.

Hanzo looked up at him, grasping his neck, and he croaked out, "Kuai Liang."

Kuai turned and walked away.

He didn't stop walking, even as he heard Hanzo call for him to wait. He found a dark corner under a table to crawl under and hide, curling in on himself and weeping.

It was hours before he finally reemerged. He got up, bleary eyed and kind of hungry. Glancing at the clock it was around 5 in the morning, and he was sure the majority of his companions would be asleep. He crept down to the kitchens, made himself something to eat, and made his way to the computer room.

He sat down in the seat next to the computer, turning it on and taking little time in logging on. He gathered the wires, plugging them into the ports in his head. Very carefully he navigated his files, finding the backup video files he made of his memories. He took a deep breath, and clicked the very first memory he ever had.

The screen turned black, before it parted to reveal Bi-Han's shocked face.

"Oh! Your eyes are open, that's a good sign! I think." Bi-Han lent in close, face screwed up as if he was trying to work something out. "Ah, let's start basic. Can you confirm that you hear and understand me?"

"Affirmative," Kuai's disembodied voice replied. He couldn't help but cringe at how robotic he had initially sounded.

"Okay, I suppose the human part of your brain hasn't had time to develop yet, but we'll work on that," Bi-Han cheerfully told him. "Can you confirm your designation for me?"

"LK-52O."

Bi-Han smiled at the answer and nodded, "good, that's good. Can you identify me?"

"You are Doctor Song Bi-Han. My creator."

"Oh god yes. Yes!" Bi-Han pulled back, pumping his fist and doing a strange little dance that made Kuai laugh to see. His brother often came across as very serious and stern, but it was really cute to see how excited he'd get over scientific breakthroughs. "Oh, I did it. I actually fucking did it!" Bi-Han laughed, almost like he was out of breath, "an organically grown cyborg. I can't believe I actually did it."

Bi-Han lent forward again, his smile wide. "Okay, listen to me. Your designation is LK-52O, but your name is Kuai Liang, do you understand?"

"Affirmative, I am Kuai Liang."

"And... Well, you already know my name is Bi-Han. But I don't want you to think of me as your creator." Bi-Han ran his hand through his hair. "You are my flesh and blood, you hear? We are not creator and creation, we are brothers."

"Affirmative, Bi-Han is my brother."

Bi-Han looked ready to cry. He reached a hand forward, Kuai could still remember what that very first touch felt like. He pressed his hand to his cheek to simulate that feeling.

"You and me, Kuai Liang," Bi-Han whispered, "we're going to change the world together."

"I've never seen that side of Bi-Han before."

Kuai tore the wires from his head, shutting off the video, swirling around to see Hanzo stood in the doorway. Kuai stared at him apprehensively.

"The Bi-Han I knew was a pretentious asshole."

"Yeah. He was a pretentious asshole. Arrogant, cocky and a smartass too clever for his own good." Kuai reached to grasp the fabric of his shirt, his heart hurt so much, "and he was my brother. The only family I had."

He turned away, staring at the wires. He was unique in this world, one of a kind. Sure there were lots of other cyborgs out there, but none like him. Other cyborgs had been humans who needed implants for various reasons. Kuai Liang had been born like this, his brother creating a robotic base and then using his own DNA he essentially grew the rest of Kuai Liang over it. His brain was partially robotic and partially organic, a feat believed to be impossible before Bi-Han managed to figure it out.

"Before the Lin Kuei realised my capabilities as a weapon, Bi-Han had so many plans." He blinked, warm tears rolled down his cheeks. "It could be a way to help people struggling with conception or to create family for those unable to do so naturally. A robotic human brain could have cured so many illness, saved so many people." Kuai tried to scrub his tears away. "He spent so long, trying to figure out all the kinks. Teaching me how to feel, how to balance my robotic half with my human half."

"I know there's nothing I can ever say to you that will change the pain I have caused you," Hanzo slowly started. Kuai turned to look back to him. "I had been told you're brother was using you as the template for an army... but, if that were true, why would he insist on you calling him his brother? Why would he bother teaching you to be human? That... doesn't align with what I was told."

"Who the hell told you that?" Kuai asked, hiccuping slightly from his tears.

"Quan Chi." Somehow that should have been obvious. "With this new context, things rather start to fit into place. Quan chi makes a deal with the Lin Kuei, convinces me to kill Bi-Han for the so called great good..."

"And there's no one to stop the Lin Kuei from using me as a weapon," Kuai finished. Hanzo was right, everything seemed to fit conveniently into place. "Unfortunately they did not take into account that Bi-Han would know something was up and had some favours to cash in."

"I understand why you hate me, I have no excuses."

He didn’t hate Hanzo, disliked him greatly but not quite hate. Now knowing he was given misinformation that influenced his decisions did rather change the nature of the assassination. At the same time, it did not change the hurt he had caused Kuai Liang.

"You thought you were doing the right thing with unreliable information. I can't fault you for that," Kuai sighed. "I still don't like you and I don't forgive you. But I do understand."

"I will not ask you for more than that."

"Uh, everything okay?" Jax's voice asked from behind Hanzo.

Kuai smiled gently, "Yeah, we're okay."

"Good, cause uh, somethings come up, and we need you both."

Kuai and Hanzo shared a look, but said nothing as they followed Jax back to the meeting room. Everyone was sat around the table except Raiden who was stood with a stern face.

"Ah, good. I’m glad we've found you both," Raiden started, gesturing them to come closer. "Hanzo, you mentioned earlier that Quan Chi had plans saved that prove his guilt in aiding with Shinnok's corruption."

"He does."

"And you know the passcodes for getting in and out of the building?" Raiden asked and Hanzo nodded. Kuai had a rather bad feeling about where this was going. "And as far as they are concerned, you have not betrayed them?"

"No, as far as they know, I'm infiltrating you."

"Do you think it's possible to get Kuai Liang in there to download the files?"

Kuai hissed at the question, it went exactly where he was thinking.

"I... could." Hanzo stared at Kuai, as if he was unsure that Kuai would agree to this too.

Kuai sighed, rubbing his temples, "I don't have much of a choice do I?" Raiden shot him an apologetic look.

Reluctant as he was, he knew that he was the most reliable form of data retrieval they had, and at the end of the day, Hanzo was the one with access to what they needed. Bringing down Shinnok and his corruption would bring down the Lin Kuei too. He needed to do this if he and his allies were to ever be safe in this world. He took a deep breath, swallowing his fears and uncertainty.

"Okay. What's the plan?"

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