A/N: Hello MK fans! Another MKX story here, this time featuring Papa Smurf (aka Kotal Kahn), and my OC Kara. Now this is the last AU Kara timeline, so none of what happened in previous stories with her happened here. Sacrosanct means sacred. I will provide more info on Kara's look, as I realised I have been rather lax there, never good. First time writing with the Emperor so if he ends up slightly OOC, it isn't me trying to annoy anyone, it's just a fail on my part, or because I haven't seen him in the situations I will put him in, and so, I have to guess how he'd act/what he'd say. Warning for swearing, extremely cynical, disrespectful and almost childlike Kara. (She's like that for a reason though) Peace! :D
Sacrosanct
A Meeting Of Minds
Outworld
Cassie, her team, and the new addition, Kara arrived in Outworld, via a portal. The bustling realm looked peaceful, but they all knew that was merely a show on the surface. Underneath that? The realm was going to hell, and they all knew it.
Cassie and Jin walked ahead of Takeda and Jacqui. Kara chose to walk further behind them.
"I don't know. I expected the sky to be purple or something".
Jin scoffed at the buzz-cut blond. "Don't believe everything you see online".
Cassie scoffed in reply. "And what makes you such an expert?"
"The Shaolin archives. I studied a lot about Outworld".
"No substitute for experience".
Jin seemed frustrated at her, why, she did not know. "And what makes you our leader?"
Takeda stepped in, to try and calm the situation. "Guys. Let's stick to the mission".
Jacqui stopped and waited for Kara to be next to her. She nodded in kind, but the older woman ignored her.
"Ahem. So then...Kara, right? Tell us about yourself".
Kara rolled her eyes.
The less you know, the better.
Takeda flinched, he heard her words, but kept on walking.
"Aw, come on. We know next to nothing about you. We don't bite".
Jin snorted at Cassie and held his stomach. "Takeda and I don't. You and Jacqui however? Different story".
Kara bit her cheek and looked at Cassie. "Urgh, fine. I used to be in the Lin Quei. Then I found out Sub-Zero is a prick, and about as useless as they come. So I left, became a cynical bitch and I fight for a living".
Jacqui wasn't sure how to respond to that...
The five walked off, again, with Kara, deliberately lagging behind.
"Li Mei has to be telling the truth".
Jacqui agreed with her. "An invasion would violate the Reiko Accords".
Takeda shook his head glumly. "'Cause you can always trust an Outworlder". He stopped in his tracks, and Kara bumped into him. She shook her head, and lent against a big bag of grain. "Sorry. But if Outworld is our ally, why didn't they help us during the Netherrealm War? Against Quan Chi and his team of...".
Jin filled in the rest, but what he said pissed a certain young woman off. "Revenants? Like Jacqui's Dad?"
Jacqui shot him a fierce glare. "Asshole...".
Jin turned to face her. "It's not an alliance. Non-Aggression pact. Outworld is not our ally".
A voice to the side of the group made them all groan.
"A point you might make with more subtlety, given your surroundings...".
Erron Black walked towards the group, and placed his hands on top of his holster. They were surrounded by the Emperor's men on all sides too.
"Now state your business. Including a reason why we shouldn't kill you".
Takeda put a finger on his temple. "I can read you...you're not from Outworld".
Erron's black ringed eyes crinkled. "I'm from Earthrealm, like you. But my employer, Kotal Kahn, is from Outworld. So now I'm from Outworld. State your business".
Kara smirked. "And how many koins did he pay you, to be his bitch huh?"
That made the gunslinger angrier. "Oh, keep your pants on, Kotal's bitch. Honestly, you'd think you'd never been insulted before. Judging by your ugly face, I call bullshit on that".
Takeda coughed, Jacqui did too, Cassie snorted, and Jin just looked at the ground.
Cassie managed to reign in the laughter that wished to come out of her mouth. "Ahem. We're emissaries. We need to talk to Kotal Kahn. Here, we have Raiden's official seal".
She took the seal from her back pocket, but Erron wasn't fooled easily. "I can buy one of those at that stall, right over there...".
Jin took a deep breath, and exhaled it, before trying to help Cassie out of a sticky situation. "Look..You can arrest us, even kill us...But if we're tellin' the truth, you probably get a pay cut-or worse". Bravery bloomed in the young monk, and he walked toward the less angrier looking cowboy. "You take us to the Kahn, I'll tell 'im you took us down. You get a bonus. Y'can't lose".
Erron's face twitched, and he scanned over the group. He turned. "Follow me".
Kara grinned, which made Cassie's group a bit scared of her. She seemed pissed before, and yet now, she was grinning?
"This mean we are making the cock sucker our bitch? Great! Only, I don't have a cock, not sure how that'll work. Hmmm...what? I'm joking. Calm down".
The six, and Kotal's men walked around the corner, to see an open battleground. A man was making a rather impassioned speech, on the Emperor's behalf, although it made Kara uneasy.
"How are they supposed to trust and like the Emperor, if he can't even be bothered to say this speech himself?"
Her whisper was unheard, and she was glad for that. She didn't need for Erron, deciding to make her his target, and put so many holes in her, she could have ropes put through them, and be used as a human pinata.
"In these times of war, we are required to view every resource as a weapon for our Emperor to use at his discretion. To take without his leave is to steal from the hand of Kotal Kahn himself".
Two other guards pulled a man out from stocks, and he was pulled in front of a big crowd, in which he begged too.
"Therefore, having been found guilty of theft, you shall be put to death".
The man looked at the bringer of his sentence and pleaded. "I was hungry, I"...
His head was placed on a chopping block, and he was forced to kneel.
"Your sentence shall be carried out...immediately!"
"NO!"
Kara shouted, and raised her hand. The guards froze, unable to move. Erron went to draw his guns, but saw them and his sand grenades levitate away from him.
She weaved her way through the crowd. "This man, he did not take to annoy or disrespect your Emperor. He did so, because he is starving. He has a family. Are they to simply wilt and die? How noble of Kotal, letting his people deteriorate, to the point where they have no other option, than to thieve. Does he deserve to die? No".
Jin seconded that. He stared at the cowboy in disgust. "Death? For petty theft?"
Erron finally retrieved his guns, when a momentary lapse of concentration from Kara meant they hovered down, within arms reach. "Remember where you are".
Jin grew livid, and started pushing his way through the crowds.
"Jin?...".
Cassie's calling of his name went unheeded. Erron went to shoot him, but Cassie grabbed his hand, and gut punched him to the floor.
Kara watched as he fell and smirked. "Get him Cassie. If that were me down there cowboy, I'd be throwing you around by your head. And I'm not talking the one on your shoulders, sweetie".
An audible groan was heard from the male guards, and audience, and she merely shrugged.
The woman in purple turned, and saw a guard's blade, mere inches away from the so called 'criminals' neck and she screeched.
"JIN!"
An arrow flew past her, and hit the guard in his shoulder. Jeers were heard from the crowd, which further riled and incensed the monk, and woman.
"What, you actually want to see this man executed? Tell me again how this 'Kotal' is amazing? Absolute tosser I say".
Several guards surrounded her, and made her fight them off.
Jin used his bow to deflect the powerful swings of the guard's blades. He beat them easily. He ran up to the stand and helped the man up.
"Go". A friend of the man put his arm around him, and helped him to get away.
Erron, who was done fighting Cassie, ran up to him, and growled.
"I knew I shouldn't have listened to you".
Jin dared to mock the gunslinger. "A lesson in trust...from a mercenary. The irony".
Erron ignored the last bit. "Here's another learning opportunity".
The pair began to fight.
Erron's shots barely missed the monk, who had to be very careful with each step he took. Each move had to go perfectly.
When he went down faster than he thought he would, Jin almost sighed with relief.
"I'm a quick learner".
The ground shaking alerted the group, and they heard a shrill voice shout out.
"Havitamaah!"
A hulking, armored beast walked forward, with a skinny, frail looking woman on his back.
The woman sneered at her 'prey'. "Let's play Torr!"
Torr roared and stomped around.
Cassie swore under her breath. "Couldn't just ask for a pony, like everyone other girl?"
Jin notched up another arrow. "The archives never mentioned symbiotes".
Torr began to run, so the group tried to take his attention off of Jin.
The beast picked up Jacqui, but she was swiftly dropped as an arrow hit him in the shoulder. He grunted, and yanked it out.
Takeda was then thrown down, but an arrow to the chest stopped him from being crushed. Cassie was picked up, and the woman went to stab her, with long clawed hands. Jin missed with his arrow, and the young blond received a nasty looking gash on her face.
Torr rumbled up to Jin. Ferra rasped and hissed at him. "You here make trouble, Skinny?" Trouble make you!"
Torr hit like a truck, every time his fist or foot connected with Jin, he felt ill, and dizzy.
But when he went down, he hit the ground like a sack of crap, a loud thud accompanying the fall.
"Love to learn more about ya. Too bad you're insane".
Everyone regrouped, and took a few moments to calm themselves.
They took too long however, as more soldiers ran at them, with a woman in the middle of them.
D'Vorah's voice clicked and chirped. "The Earthrealmers, yes? This one must learn more of your diplomatic techniques".
Cassie put her arms out at her sides, a gesture to mean no ill will. "We're here to see Kotal Kahn. General Blades's-".
The swarm queen's oddly coloured eyes shimmered, and she grew annoyed. "You interfere with Outworld matters. The penalty is death".
Cassie rolled her eyes, and looked at Jin. "I'm sensing a theme".
Kara agreed. "Yes. Lets murder visitors, and our own people, because, you know, that'll make us look great! Not".
D'Vorah continued. "But as we honor the Reiko Accords, we will consult with the Emperor. You will await him here".
As she walked away, Cassie grabbed Kara, and frowned at Jin.
"You wanna take this opportunity to tell us what the fuckshit you two were thinking?!"
Takeda focused on Jin, not Kara. "I gotta wonder why you'd risk interrealm war for a bread thief".
Jin stared his friend down. "Because not all thieves are irredeemable".
He remembered the time when he stole a Kung family statue from a shrine, built in honor of his family.
He thought he had gotten away with it, but Raiden was there. The two fought, until the Elder God convinced Jin to join the Shaolin. They would not judge him, for being who he was, for feeling the way he did, was what he had said.
Kotal Kahn stood before Cassie's team, and he paced back and forth.
"Your news of refugees is troubling. Their exodus to Earthrealm was not known to me". He walked up to Cassie. "I do know this: I invited no guests from Earthrealm. Certainly none who would disrupt the execution of justice".
Kara knelt in front of him. "Justice?! Emperor, I beseech you. Do not let your hired gun murder people. They do not steal to annoy you, or challenge your rule. They do so, because they are starving, their families are. I implore you, please".
D'Vorah hissed at her. Kotal ignored her, for now. "How do I know you are not allied with Mileena? Perhaps her newfound power has earned her new friends?"
Kara stood, and moved away. Cassie stepped up. "Friends? No. No! We're not even sure that was Shinnok's amulet she has-".
Kotal's tone changed, to one of disbelief, and vitriol. It grew steadily louder. "She employs Shinnok's amulet against me?! The very item that Earthrealm swore would be safe in it's care?! When Outworld was offered no participation-".
"We were under attack, not Outworld-".
Kara stepped forward again. "Not having this. Emperor, if you really cannot see what is going on, and it isn't just in Outworld, then perhaps I'll beat it into you. Fight me. You win? I die, and we forget about this whole little thing, and you can go back to pretending that everything is hunky dory. I win? You grant me an audience, alone. No games, no tricks, nothing".
Kotal laughed. "And who are you, to speak to me in such a way, little girl?"
D'Vorah answered him. "She's considered a demi-Goddess on Earthrealm. Here? She is nothing".
Kotal looked at Kara, his face impassive but curiosity bit at him. "A Goddess? You seem mortal. A tiny mortal like you could never stop me, despite your feigned respect".
Kara stood. "I take it that's a yes? I don't feign respect, I don't have any for a man, who lets his people suffer. That's just low".
Cassie sounded exasperated. "KARA! This isn't part of the damn plan!"
Kara shrugged. "There's a plan? A poorly designed one then. Guys, just shush for a little while, while I beat the big cheese here".
Kotal growled. "Heh, sorry. Emperor". She curtsied, and that threw him. She walked onto a fairly big plot of land, and waited until he was opposite her.
They bowed and began to battle.
Kara was quick, nimble, light footed. Kotal was not. He almost lumbered around, compared to her. But, any hits he did get in stung like hell. He back handed her over a balcony, and Cassie's group gasped.
"Oh shit. Kara left us in the lurch. Thanks for that".
A scuffling sound was heard, before Kara reappeared, and smacked the Emperor, sending him hurtling towards the floor. She levitated, and threw rocks at him with her telekinesis. The only thing giving away his discomfort at being pelted with stones was a few grunts.
"She's..she's actually pretty good. He's gonna burn her though, sun God and all".
Kara looked at Jacqui and shook her head. "Nope, he's THE war god. Although, he's not as vicious as I heard he was. Yes, I know you, Ko'atal. And you can do much better than this. After all, I am just a little girl, no? And you are a big, strong warrior god. You could pummel me with one hand. And yet, you don't".
Kotal stopped fighting her. "You're gutsy, girl. You are coming with me".
Erron appeared behind her, from nowhere, and grabbed her arms. She swore. "Get off me". She lifted him up, and he went bright red, when everyone laughed at him. Even Kotal caught himself chuckling.
"Emperor, forgive my words, but I am not the type to just roll over and let you scratch my belly. That's just not me. I have to decline your offer, as it seems your two lapdogs are itching to rip me to shreds, and I don't want to die just yet".
Kotal took that, not very well, but he took it. He looked at the crowd, and made sure that everyone heard this.
"The charges against you are void. I say to all that Earthrealm means Outworld no harm".
Jin stepped forward, and bowed his head. "Emperor, I claim your service. If Mileena does have the amulet, we can get it from her more easily if we work together".
Kotal's teal eyes flashed, and he nodded. D'Vorah was less than pleased however. "Emperor, they cannot be trusted-".
Kotal shut her down. "D'Vorah. Can you not perceive what just happened?"
He and Jin shook hands, and Cassie's group all let out collective sighs.
"You honor us, Kotal Kahn. Our gratitude is wide like the ocean".
Kotal seemed off, he wasn't 100% sure about this. D'Vorah's words may have affected him more than he'd like to admit.
Cassie managed a small smile. "I'll talk to General Blade. Tell her about our new...arrangement".
Everyone felt a little more at ease, but the war was still imminent, none would fully let down their guard.
And in the background, Erron was still looking for his damn sand grenades...
