I touched down in an area I was quickly becoming familiar with while I was here. The Special Forces secret desert base. I noticed the current squad standing at attention in front of a blonde woman with a commanding presence. I grinned and stood in the background, out of sight of everyone.
"…But there are no favorites here in the Special Forces. We have one tradition to keep before you can be promoted."
"I have to kick the CO's ass. Your ass, ma'am," said a young blonde woman in about her mid-twenties. 'Oh this should be fun.' I watched as they sized each other up before the younger woman charged forward, a green aura surrounding her. She managed to land a kick before she sent in a drone to shock the older woman. The CO jumped over the drone and kicked her opponent to the ground.
"Come on, Cassie," shouted a woman the same age as Cassie. 'And she's still here, too. Can't say I'm surprised. Like father, like daughter. A Briggs to the end.' I spotted a man watching the fight from in front of a fighter jet, grinning as he watched the fight.
"You got this, Sweetie," he shouted. 'He's getting up there in age, isn't he? Maybe I shouldn't mention Alma to them just yet. Might break his ego.' I looked around the base. 'That's odd. Those two aren't here. They must be at their respective training grounds.' I groaned and gripped my head as knowledge of alternate timelines started rushing into my head. I spotted multiple instances of two men, one a mortal, the other a god, fighting one another. 'What the hell was that?!' As I tried to get my thoughts in order Cassie managed to knock her CO to the ground and grin as she helped her up.
"Congratulations, Commander Cage," said the CO as she saluted to Cassie. Cassie saluted back as she smiled.
"Thank you, General." As the other soldiers stepped forward to congratulate her. I walked over to the man.
"Still one hell of a daughter, Cage," I said, making him jump and turn around. I grinned as he smiled back at me. "And taking down Sonya is no easy feat. I'm sure you know that from experience."
"Phoenix Mason," said Cage as he clapped a hand on my shoulder. "As I live and breathe. I thought you were traveling!"
"Decided to pay a visit before heading to the Fire Gardens. See how the team is doing."
"The team's doing great," said Cassie as she walked over to us, smiling. "And better without you holding us back." We shared a smile before hugging. "Good to see you again, Phoenix."
"Look at you. Commander Cassandra Cage of the United States Army Special Forces. Stepping up in the world, huh?"
"Yeah. What about you, man? How you been?"
"Busy. Let's leave it at that."
"Always so secretive, huh," asked the young woman cheering Cassie on before.
"Perks of the training, Jacquie. How's Takeda."
"Still needs some breaking in, but he's fine."
"Better hope Jax doesn't hear that." I grinned as she turned somber. "What's wrong?"
"Dad's been… depressed lately. Mom passed away a few months ago."
"Oh, damn. Jacquie, I'm so sorry."
"It's fine. But it hit dad harder than it did me."
"She was his rock. I don't doubt he's taking this extremely roughly. I could go pay him a visit before heading to the Fire Gardens."
"I don't want to trouble you, Phoenix."
"If he's in a bad place, being alone is a bad thing. Trust me, I know."
"If you think you can help, go ahead and try. But none of us have been able to get through to him. Not even Aunt Sonya." I turned to Sonya. She sighed and shook her head.
"Damn. And you're his best friend."
"Maybe you'll have better luck," said Cage. "You said you have experience with mental trauma, right?"
"Yeah. More than enough experience."
"He's at our home," said Jacquie. I think you know where it is."
"Yeah. I did have to find him during the Shinnok incident."
"Hey," said Cage. "I gotta head out. Shoot starts in about an hour."
"You're still acting Johnny? I thought you'd retire by now."
"Hey, I'm not nearly old enough to retire."
"How's the knee?" He glared slightly at me before turning to Cassie. "Walk your o… your dad out, Sweetie."
"Ah, you were about to say: 'old man' weren't you," asked Cassie as she and Sonya followed Johnny out.
"Yeah, yeah." I grinned as I followed them. I stood back a bit as they had their family moment and felt the air shift slightly. A blast of red lightning struck the ground between me and the Cage family. 'Red Lightning? Raiden, what's going on?' He turned to the Cage family.
"Raiden," said Sonya. "What's wrong?"
"The Netherrealm. We need to act swiftly." He turned around and came face to face with me. "Phoenix Mason. Welcome back."
"And just in time for another fight. Why is my timing always so bad?"
"We're fortunate you arrived when you did. We may succeed this day."
"You gonna tell me what's going on?"
"The Netherrealm is a growing threat. With Shinnok gone, Liu Kang and Kitana have taken control of Netherrealm's forces," said Sonya. We walked into the SF command center.
"Before they become a threat to rival that of Shao Khan's during the Outworld Invasion. We must strike preemptively."
"They haven't done anything," I told him. "We shouldn't risk lives on something that could provoke an all-out war."
"We need to hit them before they hit us," said Sonya. "Make them realize that Earthrealm will not be invaded again."
"Phoenix," said Raiden. "We do what we must in order to protect Earthrealm." I sighed. 'War never changes.'
"Cassie, you still have my com frequency, right?"
"Yeah."
"Give me a call if things go south, got me?"
"You're not coming," she asked me.
"I gotta get to Jax, make sure he's fine. If things go south, call the cavalry."
"Good luck," said Sonya.
"You too. Johnny's not going?"
"He's got a schedule to keep," said Cassie.
"Right." I surrounded myself with flames and found myself outside a quaint farmhouse. I went up to the door and knocked.
"Who's there," called a voice inside.
"You're favorite ninja! Well, second favorite." I smirked as the door opened.
"Technically, I don't care for ninjas in general. But for you and Takeda, I'll make an exception." He smiled and clapped me on my shoulder, almost breaking it. "Welcome back, kid."
"I ain't a kid anymore."
"And what makes you say that?"
"I got a kid of my own, Jax." I pulled out a wallet and showed him a picture of me and Alma when she was three. "That's Alma. My daughter."
"You're not that older than Jacquie and Cassie!"
"She's adopted. Her sperm donor known as her father was doing some… unspeakable things to her when she was born. Horrific tests, on an infant! Her mother had died in child birth, and I killed her father and his staff. Adopted her then and there."
"Damn. That's some story."
"Yeah, well… it was as I was going through some issues. Issues Alma helped me get out of just by being near me." I smiled and turned to him. Mind if I come in, Major?"
"Just call me Jax, Phoenix. I retired a couple of months ago."
"I heard what happened. I'm sorry, Jax. I know she and Jacquie were your rocks in life."
"You don't know the half of it. Vera was everything to me. And to lose her."
"I get it, Jax. I do. She helped you with therapy after coming back from being a Revenant. But you can't shut yourself off from the world, Jax. I'm sure Vera wouldn't want that." I stared at him unflinchingly as he grabbed my neck.
"Don't you dare say what she would've wanted! You didn't know her! Not like I knew her!"
"You're right. I didn't know her. But I've been in your position, Jax. Losing a loved one, feeling that grief. I felt it! When Shinnok invaded, he wiped out most of the Shirai Ryu! Including my girlfriend! I know what you're feeling, Jax. Shutting yourself away, that won't make the pain go away. You can't numb it with beer, or drugs." I kicked him away from me and got into a fighting stance as he growled and raised his arms into a boxers position. "And if you aren't willing to listen to my words, maybe my fists can knock some sense into you." Jax charged at me and tackled me to the ground, slamming my head down with his cybernetically enhanced fists. I kicked him off and pulled out a rope dart. I flung it at him and wrapped it around his neck before pulling him to the ground. I kicked his ribs, sending him into the air before kicking him across his living room.
Jax growled and picked up a minigrand piano before throwing it at me. It knocked me off my feet and to the ground he charged me again before grabbing me and sending a barrage of punches to my face and ribs. I managed to pry myself out of his grip and tackled him into a table, grabbing a bust and slamming it into his chest. The sound of cracking ribs filled the room as I jumped away from him. He popped his neck before getting back into a ready stance. I sent out my rope dart again, this time wrapping it around his legs before dragging him across the hardwood floor. I grabbed his head and slammed it into the ground a number of times before kicking him into the air and pulling the rope taut, slamming him into the ground again. Jax groaned as he tried to stand up, only to drop to a knee, dazed. "Alright. Alright," he said. "I give." I breathed out and helped him to his feet, using a bit of my magic to heal him and me.
Before I could say anything, my com blipped. "Phoenix," shouted Cassie on the other end. "Help!"
"Cass," I asked. "What's wrong?"
"It's Mom! She's trapped! I can't get her out!"
"Hold on, I'm on my way."
"Where are they," asked Jax.
"The very place you shouldn't be. Raiden led an attack on Shinnok's Bone Temple. Destroy the seat of power, ruin Liu Kang and Kitana's chances of attacking Earthrealm." I turned to him. "I'm dropping you off at the base. I need to go the Netherrealm and help them." I clapped him on the shoulder and, true to my word, left him at the SF base before appearing at the Bone Temple. Instantly, I could feel my Soul Magic being drained and corrupted by the foul realm. I spotted Cassie trying to dig through a massive pile of rubble. "Stand back!" She and Jacqui turned around and spotted me. I used my magic to lift the rubble off the ground and Sonya. Cassie and Jacqui hurried and got to Sonya, dragging her out, her bones broken from the waist down. The SF soldier left the collapsing temple and I got to the ladies. "Hang on!" I wrapped us in fire and teleported us beside Raiden before blasting an Oni that was charging him. He opened a portal back to Earthrealm as the Temple fell. I rushed us through as a spark of light followed us through without us noticing. I got to work healing Sonya as Raiden turned to us.
"Thank you, Phoenix Mason. Without your assistance…"
"Raiden, I am trying to heal broken bones, ruptured organs and numb her pain all at the same time. I need full concentration."
"Sonya," shouted Johnny as he and Jax ran over.
"I'm fine, Johnny," said Sonya, slightly pained. I finally stopped and turned to an SF soldier.
"Get her a medic! I've done all I can, but she'll need to be looked over thoroughly!" They nodded and ordered two other soldiers to get a stretcher. I turned to Cassie. "What happened in there?"
"We were setting up the charges under Shinnok's Shrine. In order to hold off the Oni, I set charges to delay their advances, making the structure weaken. Liu Kang dropped the ceiling on top of her and the soldiers she was with. She ordered us to leave, and that's when I called you." I sighed.
"Guess it's good thing I came when I did." I turned to Raiden and glared. "You almost got Sonya killed! One of Earthrealm's last champions! And you almost killed her!"
"This can wait," said Cassie. "We need to write up the mission report. Come on." I sighed as we followed her to the command center. I gripped my head just as I passed through the doorway.
"You ok," asked Johnny.
"Yeah, just been getting headaches since I returned. 'No doubt from whatever Chronika is doing.' I looked up as sand started filling the room and the building shook. "What the hell…?!" I looked through the sand and saw three figures. Three people I knew, just younger. Johnny Cage, Jax Briggs and Sonya Blade, all the same age as Cassie and Jacqui, stared at an older Johnny Cage and Jax Briggs, as well as Cassie Cage and Jacqui Briggs.
"By the Elder Gods," exclaimed Raiden. I turned around and saw him swallowed up by the sands.
"What the hell is going on?!"
"That's what I'd like to know," said a voice behind me. I turned around and spotted a woman dressed in white, glowing white eyes and a kriss dagger hanging from her belt. "This is… most unusual." I gripped my head again as I saw a vision of Outworld. An execution of a Nakandan known as the Kollector by the order of Kotal Khan, only for the vision to shatter.
"Dammit." I turned to Cassie. "Sort this out, I'll be right back!"
"Where are you going," she asked.
"Outworld." Using flames once more, I found myself in the Outworld Koliseum, standing behind a man with an old western style getup and a repeater rifle on his back. I arrived minutes before the Timequake started in Earthrealm. "Erron." The gunslinger turned around, surprised.
"Ain't you a sight for sore eyes. What brings you to these parts, Waco?"
"Something's wrong. We need to warn Kotal that something is going to interrupt this execution."
"How sure are you about that?"
"Sure as your trick shot."
"Damn. Alright, come on!" We made our way to Kotal's position in the arena. "Boss! We got a problem!" Kotal Khan turned around.
"Erron? Phoenix Mason?"
"Nice to see you too, Kotal," I said. "Listen, something big is about to happen." On que, the Timequake started up and sand started filling the Kolliseum. I watched as a woman with bright red hair, a younger Erron, a man with sharp teeth and bone spikes just jutting from the back of his wrist, a bald man with a cybernetic eye and a man with red and gold spiked armor came from a tornado of sand. Another tornado formed and a man of Chinese descent wearing a red bandana, a woman wielding a fan and wearing a blue skintight outfit, a man, also of Chinese descent wearing a blue tunic and a razor rimmed hat, a woman wearing green and carrying a staff and Raiden emerged from it. "Holy hell…"
"Kid," said Erron. "I think you took the words right outta my mouth." Kotal calmly looked around at the newcomers, recognizing all of them.
"Raiden? Shao Khan?" The man wearing red and gold armor looked to him.
"General Kotal?"
"Kotal Khan!"
"Khan?! Pathetic fool! You pretend to my throne!"
"It is mine! By right and deed! You were killed long ago, as was your repugnant Mileena!"
"We were at the Mortal Kombat Tournament," said Raiden. Kung Lao had just defeated Shang Tsung and Quan Chi."
"Yeah," I said. "For us, that happened about twenty years ago."
"For us, they happened only moments ago."
"What game are you playing, Raiden," shouted Shao Khan. "What magic powers this illusion?!"
"If this is an illusion it is one we all share."
"Past and future are colliding," I said as I met Raiden's gaze.
"Kitana," said Kotal. "Baraka, Skarlet! All Outworld Champions long since gone. If you have all returned, has…?"
"I'm here, Kotal," said the woman in green.
"Jade…"
"Touching reunion," I said. "It really is, but whatever is going on here, we can't let Shao Khan live."
"Agreed. But Osh-tek custom requires all refugees be offered assistance. I offer it to you, Shao Khan—"
"I am not a refugee! I am Khan!" I launched my rope dart at him and hit him square in the chest. I pulled myself to him, ready to remove his head when a red laser knocked me from the air. I groaned and looked up to see the man with the cyber eye standing over me.
"Sorry, champ. But he's payin' me the big bucks!"
"Black Dragon asshole. You know, the present you is much more cowardly. Must come with age." I charged and tackled him into a pit as fighting broke out between those loyal to each Khan. I kicked off of the man and launched two rope darts to the ground below him before pulling myself downwards and landing a double knee strike to his chest. "Come on Kano. I'm eager to see what kind of paradox I'll create by killing you here and now."
"Better men have tried!"
"Doubtful." I kicked him in the head before kicking him once again and sending him into the air. I sent a stream of flame up at him, only for him to barely dodge it as he spun in the air. He threw sand in my face and tackled me to the ground, driving a dagger into my side. I threw him off and pulled out the dagger as he grinned. I quickly wiped it off his face as I healed and hurled a rope dart at his chest, landing it dead center. "Get over here!" I pulled him towards me, and flip kicked him into the air once more before grabbing a dropped spear and throwing it at him as he fell. It impacted his shoulder and was driven in more as he landed. "Gift from the future, asshole!" I kicked him, knocking him out. Before I could even kill him, I saw Kotal being dragged down here with me in a pool of blood. I saw the blood form the red haired woman from before.
"Skarlet," said Kotal. "Still doing Shao Khan's bidding."
"Better to serve Shao Khan than to die in the streets," said Skarlet.
"Kotal, I'm heading up top to try and get Shao Khan. Can you handle her?"
"Of course. Go, hurry!" I rushed out of the Beast Pens and back up to the arena, ducking under a bone spike. "Baraka, right?!"
"You are right, human!"
"I heard you were ugly, but damn. Johnny really wasn't kidding when he said to picture a blender was put to the Predator's face." I sent out my rope darts, only for him to cut them with his bone spikes and dodge to the side. "Guess that's why sensei switched to chains…"
"Waco," called Erron from above. I looked up just in time to catch one of his revolvers.
"What no spare ammo?!"
"Kinda busy at the moment!" I saw him get kicked away from the edge by one of Shao Khan's soldiers.
"Damn. Oh well, six shots and a dream…" Baraka charged me, and I blocked a stab from his spikes, they barely deflected off of my Omni-Boy. "Hey! Watch the hardware!" I pistol whipped him across the jaw before shooting him three times in the chest. I grabbed his arm and brought it down on my shoulder, breaking it before grabbing a discarded shield and bashing him across the room into Skarlet with it. The momentary distraction gave Kotal an opening and he grabbed her before calling forth a beam of sunlight to hit her. Up top, I noticed Shao Khan fighting Raiden and spotted an amulet with blood dripping from it on his chest. I aimed the revolver and fired cutting the amulet off its chain. He grabbed for it but was kicked away by Raiden.
"No!" I snatched the amulet from the air and felt it start seeping into my own blood. I growled in pain as I used my magic to keep control and force it to bend to my will. At the same time, Skarlet gripped her head in pain. Shao Khan dropped to a knee and moved from Raiden as the Kollector attacked him. I walked to Skarlet and held the amulet over her.
"Submit or die, Skarlet."
"I… I submit!" The amulet glowed and she dropped to a knee before me as Kotal knocked out Baraka.
"Filthy Tarkatan!"
"Keep your racism in check, Kotal. They value blood as much as the Osh-tek do. Maybe even more so. Of course they sided with Mileena, she was created with Tarkatan blood. I warned you against exterminating them last time. Don't make the same mistake this time." I heard the doors slam open and got ready for a fight, only to see Jade standing there. She and Kotal went up to each other and shared a kiss. I chuckled for a second. "Time and a place, you two." I turned to the doorway as they banged up again and saw the young Erron. I fired two shots as he brought up his revolvers and knocked them from his grip. Before he could react, I threw the older Erron's revolver and knocked him out.
I picked it up and took the younger Erron's holsters before picking up his guns and putting them away. "We should get up there," said Kotal. "Capture Shao Khan and his followers before they kill anyone else."
"You sure you don't want to just kill him? With him alive again, he's got claim to the throne. Although, technically, this version of Shao was never killed by the Elder Gods to begin with. God I hate time travel." I turned to Skarlet. "You're coming with us. You follow my will. Understand?"
"Yes, master…"
"You took control of the Blood Code," asked Jade.
"With some difficulty, but yes."
"I didn't think it was possible."
"Yeah, well impossible is my area of expertise." The four of us made our way to the arena and I saw Shao Khan fighting Liu Kang. "There he is." I pulled out the revolvers and fired continuously before shooting his arms and making him drop his war hammer. "Skarlet, would you kindly capture that hammer from your former master?" Reluctantly, the Sanguimancer did as I asked as Kotal approached his predecessor. I gripped my head as time bled information into my mind. I didn't get full scenes, only flashes. I groaned as they stopped. "Dammit, the Raiden Experience. Better not fuck this up." I watched as Kotal beat Shao. I spotted sand in the Beast Pen and saw the knocked out fighters disappear in sand portals. I looked up as bugs started flying in.
"D'Vorah," said Kotal. I burned bugs as they tried to swarm me and Skarlet.
"Shao Khan," shouted the bug woman. "To me!" Shao and his remaining followers ran through the sand portal. I unloaded bullets at them as they ran through and hit D'Vorah in the shoulder. She growled at me before the portal closed. I gave the guns a flourish before holstering them.
"You missed all but one shot, Waco," said Erron as he walked up to me.
"I don't dual wield, Aim's always off." I handed back his revolver. "By the way, the younger you is a cocky little shit."
"Tell me something I don't already know."
"Kotal Khan," said Raiden. "I am Raiden, Protector of Earthrealm."
"We know who you are, Raiden," I said as I stood between him and Kotal. "We fought together to defeat Shinnok."
"Shinnok's been defeated?"
"I'll explain more when we get back to Earthrealm. You can't stay here long, remember? Especially not with this crisis." He turned to his champions.
"He is right. Kung Lao, Liu Kang, help Kotal Khan however you can." I surrounded myself in white flames as he used his lightning to take him to Earthrealm. I appeared in the command center of the SF compound and Cassie ran up to me. "What happened?"
"Time is being distorted. I'm going to be honest I was sent back here because of it." She looked around and spotted everything was paused. "This is me, not whatever is going on."
"So, this Council you work for felt something was wrong?"
"Not just felt, saw. Time is being fractured. Not just here, but other worlds as well. I'm here dealing with the largest threat first. The fate of an entire Multiverse. I'm gonna need your help while I'm here. While you speak with Raiden, I need to check on the Shirai Ryu."
"Good luck."
"Thanks." I disappeared from her view and found myself in a Nexus Void. One created for the use of the Kamidogu. "Why am I here?"
"There is much we need to speak about," I heard a familiar voice behind me.
"Shinnok…" I sent my remaining rope dart at him and hit him squarely in the chest. "Come Here" I pulled him towards me and punched him squarely in the face. "You've evaded me for too long bastard!"
"I didn't come here to fight you, Insect!"
"Then being here is a big mistake!" I kicked him in the chest and sent a blast of energy at him. He evaded and growled.
"Fine. Since Kombat is inevitable, it seems I'll have to dirty my hands with your blood."
(Author's Notes)
Sorry, gotta leave things here. You'll have to wait for the showdown between Verser and Elder God. So sorry about that, but these chapters I'm keeping under a certain word count for this series, just so I can make things progress how I need them to. Sorry if the fights seem short, going by realism, not game mechanics. So consider this a single round option from the old Midway games. Leave a thought on how this first chapter went and what you think will happen in the future. Until next time, Y'all!