A/N: How sweet are Jacqui and Takeda? Aw, those two are just adorable. Oh, my heartstrings! I do have a heart, it just doesn't seem to make much of an appearance lately. -_- So many ellipses in the game dialogue...They'll be another chapter, only because this one is getting really long, and Sub is getting cranky.
Blossom
Kara arrived back, into the base camp, and the first thing that hit her was a familiar smell.
Blood, many people were bleeding, and it stained the floor, rivulets disappearing into the cracks in it.
She ran to the main hub tent, and saw Sonya, lying on a gurney, unconscious. Cassie was pacing next to her, and turned to face her friend.
"Why'd you leave? Thought Sub-Zero trained you better than to skulk off".
Kara bit her inner cheek and frowned. "Excuse me? Johnny and my Mom have just been kidnapped, and you are questioning me? What in the realms? I was scared! Hell, I've been coddled most of my life. I knew things were getting bad, but, to have this suddenly happen...to know I couldn't stop it. Cassie, I couldn't even graze Shinnok! I'm useless! That is why I fled, okay? Yes, I am a fucking loser. I get it. I am supposed to help people. But, when I am supposed too? I fail". She mumbled sorry, before leaving the tent.
Cassie ran after her, and grabbed her hand, yanking her backwards. Kara huffed, but could see that the Sergeant did look apologetic. "Kara, look, I'm the one who should be sorry. I shouldn't be lashing out. I'm scared too, I think we all are. We need to go after him. Jacqui?"
Jacqui walked in, with an interactive map in one hand. She pointed to a dense forest. "We can land there, it's the closest we can get without being detected. Kara, you holding up?"
Kara shook her head. "At least you're honest. Look, Cas, we need to go after Shinnok, now. We can't wait. I know your Mom, Kenshi and Master Hasashi are hurt but, they'll be okay. You know that. They've been through a hell of a lot worse, and come through the other side".
Cassie's mood lightened, and she smiled and nodded. "You're right. Kara, I'm really sorry, okay? I don't want to fight with you".
She patted Kara's shoulder, before leaving the tent.
In the corner, stood Jin, and no one knew that he was there. Takeda appearing startled him, and he jumped. He sighed, regained his footing, and stared at his Shirai Ryu friend.
"Sheesh, stop doing that. I was right, you know".
Takeda read his mind, and agreed with him. He looked at Kara and nodded.
"Yeah, I think you are. Isn't that a bit odd though? I mean, he's older. Much older than her".
Jin flinched, and looked away. "I...we have to go".
Takeda nodded, and the pair walked towards their helicopter.
Soon afterwards, the five team members were on their way to the Sky Temple.
Cassie looked at the map. "We land in fifteen minutes. We'll enter the Sky Temple from the terrestrial entrance".
Takeda seemed confused. "Why not just go straight there?"
Jin piped up. "It exists in a different quantum state, slightly out of phase with our reality. It can't be reached by conventional means".
A sigh came from Takeda and Jacqui noticed it.
"What?"
He looked at her. "It's just us. No one's coming to help. We can either pull this off or-".
Cassie chimed in. "We will get it done".
Kara seconded that. "We have to get it done. I can still feel the Jinsei's energy. It's faint, but it's there, and it's hurting me. Something is drastically wrong, and I know Mom's and my power is being used against it, and us. I freaking HATE that".
Alarms sounded in the helicopter, and the five looked out from the windscreen.
Scarlet, what appeared to be mist, started emanating upwards outside, turning the sky a vivid red colour.
Kara froze. This is what was wrong with the Jinsei. This is what she had felt.
Jin almost swore. "By the...what is that?!"
Takeda maintained his cool, but a pang of worry was starting to grow in his gut. "Dunno. But, it's headed right for us".
Jin just stared into this red mist. "Elder God have mercy...".
More emergency alarms were set off and Jacqui knew she had to land the aircraft. "Buckle up people! I gotta put her down".
Everyone sat back down, as she safely landed the craft.
The pilot looked at her GPS, and turned to face the direction it was showing the Sky Temple resided.
"Looks like the temple entrance is fifteen clicks that way".
Takeda smiled at her, which went unnoticed. "A moonlight walk in the woods. Another time, it'd be relaxing".
Jacqui laughed quietly. "I wouldn't have pegged you as outdoorsy".
Her friend began to reminisce. "My Mother and I lived near a forest, a lot like this. Really takes me back".
She looked at him, and blushed a little. "After we wrap this up, we should go".
The pair looked at each other and had a sweet little moment, before sparks brought the lovebirds out of their daze.
"Ugh, fuck me. We're grounded. That shockwave fried the leads".
Jacqui looked at Cassie and her voice grew determined. "Then lets get going. We're almost out of time".
The four walked quickly away from the helicopter.
A portal appearing out of the blue startled them. What startled them even more, was Kotal Kahn walking out of it, followed by his men, Ferra, Torr, Ermac, Reptile and Erron Black.
"What are they doing here?"
Jacqui said what they were all thinking. "Looking for the amulet, I bet".
The worry increased for the group. They needed to be at the Sky Temple, not scrapping with the Emperor and his men.
"We have to tell them about Shinnok. Call a truce".
Kotal growled. "Bring them to me!"
His men ran at the group, and Cassie groaned.
"Or not".
"The woods! C'mon!"
Jacqui's suggestion was a damn good one, and the five heeded it, running as fast they could, in the opposite direction, to the livid Emperor, and his rampaging men.
Each of the kombatants hid behind a tree, as Kotal and his men scouted out the area, very close to them.
Ferra's raspy voice snarled. "They quiet. Sneaky".
Kotal turned to his telepathic and telekinetic servant. "Ermac".
Several voices spoke at once. "We sense them. But the forest teams with souls".
Reptile hissed. "Yes...so close...".
Grenades started going off around the group, and roars came from the men. Trees began to fall, and crushed some of them. Cassie's group threw grenades as fast as they could. Jin fired arrows, Jacqui shot a group of the men, with blue energy, from her gauntlets.
Cassie threw a grenade, and it landed, mere meters away from Reptile, who jumped up, and away from it's blast.
A screech was head from Ferra, and she made Torr back up.
Kotal bellowed. "Divine fire and earth!"
Reptile ran up a tree, and stared at Jacqui. "I see you...".
Takeda spotted him, and ran towards her. "Jacqui, look out!"
But he was too late to stop the attack. Reptile jumped, and landed on top of her, and pinned her hands down, by the sides of her head.
The young acolyte ran at the creature, but it spat green venom at him. It went in his eyes, and he howled in agony. He keeled over and hissed.
Reptile went to hit Jacqui, but she blocked it, and kneed him. She stood up and got into her fighting stance.
"You hurt him? You answer to me".
The pair began to fight, unaware of the rest of the chaos, around them.
Kara was trying to get in touch with Sub, but her telekinesis had been weakened rather severely, by Shinnok. She kept on calling his name with her mind, and prayed he would get the message soon.
Torr's arm smacked her, and she fell down, swearing afterwards. She stood back up, and put all of her weight into her arms, hitting the beast in his stomach. He fell down and Ferra got off his back, and launched herself at Kara. She threw Ferra down, and stomped on her leg, then her other leg, and then twisted her arm, behind her back.
"Hey freak. Piss off, before I shove you were the sun doesn't shine. Right up Torr's ass".
Ferra hopped back onto Torr's back, and he ran off.
Jacqui had beaten Reptile to a pulp.
"Go crawl back under your rock, Reptile".
She turned, and ran straight over to Takeda, who was now sitting, with his back against a tree trunk.
He was still in a lot of pain. "Stop! You need water". She took out a canteen. "Lean your head back". She poured some water onto his eyes, and the acidic gunk ran down his face.
"Can you see?"
Takeda nodded, but squinted. "Yeah, yeah. It's fuzzy but...". She poured more water over his eyes, before he opened them.
"Better?"
His sight became less blurry, and he stared up, at Jacqui's inquisitive face. "Beautiful". The pair smiled at each other.
The ground started to shake, and the two turned.
It was Ermac, and he'd lifted a thick tree trunk, high up, into the air.
Kara saw it, and ran over to the pair.
"Wait until after this to get it on, okay, lovebirds? It's sweet, but, Ermac won't see it that way, you know, as he tries to kill both of you".
Jacqui nodded, and put her arm around Takeda. "Hold that thought".
The three began running, and just got far enough in time, before Ermac threw down the trunk.
The soulmancer threw blasts of spirit energy towards the three, who had to zigzag to dodge them.
They stopped at an impasse, when Kotal's men surrounded them. They knew then, that they were screwed.
Takeda knew they couldn't stall.
"Ladies choice?"
Jacqui turned towards the soulmancer. "I've got Ermac".
Kara looked towards Kotal's men. "I'll take them".
She and the Shirai Ryu acolyte ran at the soldiers, Jacqui, towards Ermac.
Ermac threw Jacqui against a tree, and as she hit the ground, he snarled.
"You are spawn of Jackson Briggs".
"And damn proud of it too. I know what you did to him".
One voice seemed to dominate the others this time. "We took your father's arms. We will take ALL of you".
Ermac was tough, he was quick, and hit hard. His opponent had to get in as many hard hits as she could, to take him down.
Jacqui smiled. "That was for you, Dad".
She ran towards a group of soldiers, but was stopped in her tracks, by a growling Torr. Ferra cackled.
"Chaka!"
Torr grabbed a hold of Jacqui, and Ferra taunted her. "Squeeze, squeeze Torr!"
His hold tightened, and she stared down the symbiotic. "Your eyes. so bright. Gonna carve 'em out".
A two clawed weapon was thrust, and almost went into her eyes. Jacqui's gauntlets had recharged, so she let out a wave, that sent Torr stumbling back.
Ferra screamed. "Trickery! Deceit!"
Jacqui moved away. "No more tricks, Just a straight-up beat down".
Kara and Takeda were still fighting the Emperor's men, and they were relentless.
"Well, he hires decent grunts".
Kara nodded, dodging a kick. "We need help".
He looked at her. "Who?"
She groaned. "Are you really that dense? Sub-Zero, that's who".
After beating down what seemed to be the last man, the two ran towards Jin and Cassie, who were fighting a few soldiers, and Kotal himself.
Takeda went for the Emperor. They exchanged blows, but Kotal didn't seem to want to fight. He just stopped fighting.
"We know D'Vorah is here. Where is the amulet?"
Takeda was wary and so, remained on guard. "Kotal Kahn, the situation has changed".
Kotal pointed at him in warning. "No not fling your spittle at me". He launched himself towards the young man. The fighting resumed, and Takeda was getting his ass handed to him.
As he swung his spear ended chain at the Emperor, he was flung next to Jacqui, who had rejoined the group.
"You tell him yet?"
He shook his head. "Not yet".
She argued. "He needs to know that...".
He cut her off. "Busy!"
Kotal wasn't amused. "I will kill you both".
Jacqui was getting pissed off. "Shinnok's been freed. He's at Raiden's Sky Temple. He's already infected Earthrealm's life force".
Kotal looked at the sky, and it began to snow. "The Heavens boil. Earthrealm is lost".
Kara wondered.
Snow? What if?...
"Not if we hang together!"
But Kotal was having none of it. He drew his sword. "I will appease Shinnok. Bring him your heads. Gain time to bolster Outworld's defenses".
He attacked the pair, and Ferra and Torr joined in.
"You need to help us, Kotal Kahn".
"It is too late for Earthrealm. Shinnok is now it's master".
When Kotal was defeated, Jacqui shook her head at him. He could, should have been an ally.
But no, he refused. And that was his downfall.
"You should'a been with us".
The clicking of a gun sounded the gunslinger, Erron Black's arrival to the mix.
"That's enough".
More of Kotal's men surrounded the four.
Cassie had her gun out, but holstered it and bit her lip. "Fuck me".
Torr appeared, with Takeda in his hands, and threw him next to his friends.
Jacqui helped him up. "Don't know about you guys, but I'm living the dream".
Takeda was perturbed. "You have odd dreams".
Kotal was back on his feet, and muttered. "Chattel. You die tonight". He looked to his men. "Nitah!"
Torr reared up, but was frozen into that state.
Then the soldiers, one by one, were frozen.
Kara could have kissed him right about now.
Sub! Thank fuck...oh, he'd hate me saying that.
The Grand-Master walked forward and hundreds of Lin Quei men came from behind him.
The five got away from the fray, and ran toward him.
Kara thanked him mentally.
Well, I did say I would help, Kara.
"You stood together against formidable odds. Lesser warriors would not have fared so well".
Cassie nodded in respect, and thanks. "Thanks Grand-Master".
"I will remain here to push Kotal Kahn back to Outworld. Proceed to the Sky Temple. Earthrealm's fate lies with you".
Four ran past him, but Kara stayed, winked, and then ran past him.
"That wasn't appropriate Kara".
He heard her reply in his head, and caught himself smiling.
Neither was you, laying next to me, in MY bed. But, that still happened. Have a little more faith in me. Please?
He nodded, though, she didn't see it.
"What did I tell you guys, huh? Something IS going on there!"
Kara stared at Jin, and growled...
...But Takeda knew, and smiled at her.
"Shut up".
"Lord Shinnok is nearly finished. Soon the Jinsei's corruption will be irreversible".
D'Vorah was speaking, to revenent Kitana, Liu Kang and Sindel.
"The invasion can then proceed. Raiden and his allies will be unable to offer resistance".
Cassie's team, unbeknownst to them, were crouched, and moving across a thin ledge, right beside them.
"Once the realm falls, our path to victory will be clear. Advise Lord Shinnok that the Oni and Orochi are ready. At his command, we will unleash them on Earthrealm".
D'Vorah walked away. Revenent Smoke and Kung Lao joined them. Liu continued speaking.
"Have you found Raiden's portal to the Heavens?"
Kung Lao replied. "Yes. But his wards protect it. We can't break through".
Kara flinched. The wards were holding up. Raiden was powerful, but with the sheer amount of power that Shinnok had gained, could they hold out for much longer?
Kitana wasn't happy. "That is unacceptable. After Earthrealm is destroyed, we must complete Lord Shinnok's vengeance: invade the Heavens and destroy the Elder Gods".
Kara felt a shiver go down her spine. How dare Shinnok have the audacity to try such a feat!
Liu motioned for them to move. "Come".
He, Kung Lao and Smoke walked away.
"Make war on the Heavens? If Shinnok can take down the Elder Gods...".
Jacqui looked at Takeda and finished his sentence. "End of the universe. Got it".
Jin, after seeing his older cousin, completely under Shinnok's control, felt sad. "Kung Lao...To see him, like this...".
Cassie stood up. "We'll all be hangin' 'round the Netherrealm's water cooler if we don't pull this off. C'mon".
The five inched side-wards a little more, but part of the wall gave way, and Takeda slipped.
"Takeda!" Jacqui tried to grab his hand, but he was too far down.
Revenent Kitana and Sindel heard the voices. Cassie knew they'd been busted, and so, hopped over the wall, along with Jin and Kara.
The two diverted the revenents attention. Cassie shouted.
"Kara, run! Get into the temple. Find your Mom. Help her!"
Kara nodded, and made a beeline for the temple entrance.
When she got in there, nothing could have prepared her for what she saw...
Tiama was in the far corner of the large, circular room. Shinnok, who looked completely different now, was in the heart of the Jinsei. Johnny had what appeared to be thick wax strands, wrapped around his body. Bugs ate away at his face too, slowly increasing his torture. Raiden was trapped, by a large, stone hand, it's fingers held firm against him. He was too weak to move. Shinnok had sapped him of most of his strength too.
D'Vorah stood by Johnny, and taunted him. "They taste your flesh. Burrow deep. Inside you they will grow. Gnaw your innards".
She turned, and saw Kara, and ran at her. But Kara flipped out of her way, and kept on flipping, until the swarm queen's attention was diverted by Cassie and Jim, running into the room.
Jin swore. "By the Gods!"
Cassie looked around the room, before laying eyes on her dad.
"Dad!"
Cassie was livid, and beckoned the swarm queen to do battle.
Kara knelt down, near her mother, and cradled her, in her arms. She began to cry, and heard her mother whisper something...
"Take my power, what's left of it".
Kara vehemently shook her head. "But that'd kill you!"
Tiama shook her head. "It won't. Shinnok still hasn't gotten full control of the Jinsei, so it is fueling my recovery. Slowly, but it is helping".
Kara heard a thud, and Cassie had beaten D'Vorah, before running over to her dad.
Tiama nodded, and Kara stared to draw the power, that her mother had left.
"You're the bug? I'm the windshield".
Cassie ran over to her dad, and tried to scratch away at the sticky goop covering him.
"Hey...Punkin".
Cassie laughed nervously. "I'm a little too old for 'Punkin'".
Johnny shook his head. "No...Get...Shinnok".
"But...".
Cassie was really scared, so was Johnny. But, he believed in her. "I love you...".
He passed out, and that prompted his daughter to freak out.
"Dad?!"
A nasty, snarling voice brought her into the realization that Shinnok was finished, absorbing the Jinsei's power.
"So you are the issue of Johnny Cage. Fitting that I exterminate his entire line".
Corrupted Shinnok stood tall, now with real sharp, long horns, and carnelian power, flowing through exposed veins. His face was now a skull, and he had a peridot coloured gem in his forehead.
"You want him, you're gonna go through me".
Cassie went to hit the God, but he easily deflected it, and grabbed her by the throat. He slammed her down, onto the ground, and she rolled away from him.
"Yes, that's better. Watch Miss Cage, as I rend your father's flesh".
Power surged from his arm, and hit Johnny's prone form. He screamed out his agony.
But, a blast of purple energy stopped his onslaught. He turned, and saw Kara, staring him down, her eyes fizzling with power.
"Ah, so it seems the daughter replaces the mother, hmm? You will still die. Prepare to watch everything you love crumble around you".
He looked back at Cassie. "This is what awaits those who defy me: excruciating , exquisite death".
He attacked Johnny again, and Kara stopped him again, this time, by creating a shield around him.
Cassie stood and all the pent up rage burst inside her. "You son of a bitch!" Shinnok directed his attack at her, but she somehow blocked it. Green power covered her arms, acting as a shield. It then lit up her entire body.
Shinnok stopped his attack. Cassie smirked. "Holy shit" It does run in the family".
Shinnok wasn't about to let her win. "Your father's power will not save you. You cannot hope to survive!"
Kara ran over to Raiden, and tried to free him. She had to do something, anything to help him, and Cassie win.
She heard a loud thud, and saw Shinnok hit the deck.
"You got Caged".
Shinnok got back up, but Cassie kept kicking, and punching him down.
When he stopped moving, the green energy around Cassie began to disparate. Jin joined her, and praised her.
A fragile voice alerted them to Raiden's predicament. Kara had freed him, but he was vulnerable. "Cassandra Cage".
She and Jin ran over to the Elder God. "Put me...in the Jinsei".
"What?"
Jin tried to reason with him. "But, you're...It'll kill you!"
Raiden groaned. "Must be cleansed. Hurry".
The two took an arm each, and helped him into the heart of the Jinsei.
"Eruni no...kami wa...watashi wa chi...joka shimasu...wa joka shimasu...".
Raiden's body began to glow, with lightning. It crackled loudly. It hit Shinnok in the chest, then crept over his body. Raiden grunted a few times, he had to restore the Jinsei, but he also had to remove Shinnok's power.
An intense, bright, white light emanated from Raiden, and the sky became blue again, the evil now gone.
Outside the temple, Takeda and Jacqui, who were extremely grateful that the revenents had retreated, as they were sore as hell, sat down on a wall. They looked up at the sky, now, it's natural, beautiful aquamarine colour, and smiled.
"That moonlight walk...Can it wait?"
Jacqui winced as she sat. "No walks. Poolside. Umbrella drinks".
He laughed at that. "Deal". He placed a hand on her knee, and she looked at him, in surprise.
But honestly? She didn't mind it.
She didn't mind it one bit.
She put her head against his shoulder, and sighed happily.
Cassie and Jin brought Raiden out of the heart of the Jinsei. Tiama stood, having fully regained her power. Kara has too, and felt much better than before. She held her mother, and didn't let go for a good while.
The two sat Raiden down. "Is he alive?"
Jin looked the Elder God over. "Barely. I'll help him. Help your father".
She did so, and Johnny looked amused. "And to think...I was worried when you started dating...".
Cassie grimaced. "Afraid I'd come home with someone like you?"
"Funny...Beautiful...Saves the world...My work here is done".
A very familiar voice made both of the Cage's smile.
It was Sonya, and she'd brought a team with her, just in case.
"Isolate Shinnok and D'Vorah. And get the medic!"
The General ran over to Johnny and her daughter. "We'll fix you up. Help is on the way".
Johnny looked at Cassie, was was beaming with pride. "You shoulda seen Cass. Wiped the floor with Shinnok".
Sonya looked at her daughter and smiled. "I believe it. And you. You did a great job with your team, Johnny".
Johnny looked at his ex-wife, in disbelief and amusement. "You hear that Cass? She called me 'Johnny'".
Cassie nodded. "I thought she might".
Kara arrived back, at the Lin Quei temple a few weeks later. She'd been looking after Tiama, and Jakal, and so hadn't had much time, to go and visit her former mentor. She and saw him, training some new students. She sat and waited until he was finished, in the same garden that they'd fought, over a month ago.
The weather was a little warmer now, and the trees were shedding their cherry blossom petals, that danced about, daintily, in the wind.
When he was done, he knew where to find her, and so, went to the garden.
"Kara. It is good to see you".
Kara didn't care who saw her. She stood up, and bear hugged Sub, who cringed, and didn't return it.
After she moved away, he noticed she was blushing.
Embarrassment? No...
"I never got the chance to thank you. Kotal was a right pain in the arse".
Sub frowned. "Kara".
Now she frowned. "That sounded patronizing as hell".
"Urgh, Kara".
"What, huh? Still too childish for you?"
Sub blinked.
For me?
Is this what I think this is?
"Don't play dumb Sub, you know how I feel. What I have been getting at, for the past few months. But every damn time, you dance around the subject. You can't dance Sub. So either tell me to leave, or don't. Your choice".
Sub shook his head and knelt down, refusing to look at her.
"You are acting like a child. You speak like one too".
Kara huffed. "So...what, should I be up myself? Have my head shoved so far up my own ass, that even the strongest warrior couldn't pull it out? I think not".
"You show glimmers of something more. But then, you revert right back to little child. Insolent, destructive".
He tried to remain impassive, but he knew he'd hurt he feelings. He heard a sob, and that struck him, right in the heart.
"You know what? You're right. I don't act like an adult. But, I keep on trying Sub. I could have just been a coward, and walked away. But no, I refused too. I care far too much. About Earthrealm, the clan, my friends, my family...you. I'll never stop fighting. So yeah, I may just be a kid to you, but at least I try to better myself".
Sub stood up, and turned to her. "I wish to care for a woman Kara, not a child".
Kara didn't look back. She just took small steps, away from him. "Yeah well, you got me. Wait, what?"
Her former mentor stepped forward, but kept his distance. "You know that I care".
She shook her head. "You do for all of your students".
"It goes far beyond that. But, it cannot be allowed to go any further".
"Why? Because I'm a child?"
"No. Because I am much too old. And you deserve better".
She turned to him and shook her head. "Kara, I am almost as old as your father. That is not right".
She rolled her eyes. "Who cares? I certainly don't. The clan of old did that, didn't they? Paired the young women with the older men, because the women were supposed to breed like rabbits? I am not asking for children, Kuai, know that. I only ask that we trust one another's judgment".
Sub flinched at his name being used. "You don't understand".
Kara shrugged. "Oh, I do. You don't trust me. I trust you. Granted, I was a fool who didn't, half the time. But I do, now. I have my own home now. You wish to see me, then you come to me. I won't come here again, I am not welcome here anymore".
She walked away, leaving her former mentor utterly defeated.
He retired to his chamber, to think.
Did he really need to be alone anymore?
He may well have blown the last chance he had at having any normal semblance of life.
