Chapter Thirteen

Asia, Unknown Area

A lightning bolt was shot out, hitting a guard square in the face and sending him away. Raiden watched as two more guards approached him. He simply waited until they were close enough before he jumped up and performed a double kick, his feet landing on their heads, knocking them back.

Nearby, Fujin delivered a few punches to another guard before kicking him away. He then noted three more guards coming his way. The God of Wind quickly summoned his powers, creating a tornado that sucked in the three guards, sending them screaming as they were spun rapidly. Fujin kept them liked this for a moment before pushing the tornado forward and sending the guards shrieking for their lives as they are sent over the temple roof's edge.

Afterwards, Fujin happened to turn his head in time to see Raiden kick another opponent in the stomach, causing him to keel over. He then used both hands to grab the guard by both the collar of his shirt and his belt before lift him up above his head.

Fujin watched as electric shocks were sent through the guard, his cries of agony reaching his ears. As the electricity continued to be sent through his body, the guard's arms and legs continued to rapidly flap around like a fish out of water, even long after he stopped screaming and his body became charred from the burning heat. Then, after what seemed like forever, the body burst, his blood and entrails flying all over the surrounding area.

Fujin was horrified by what his friend had just executed. No, it wasn't the first time Raiden killed anyone, even when his mind was still rational. However, Fujin knew that, whenever Raiden killed anyone, he was usually quick about it, his one way of granting any sort of mercy. Now, it would seem as though he was taking his time, making the mortal suffer for as long as possible. There was no mercy involved.

He's not what he used to be… Fujin thought to himself.

Soon, Raiden placed his arms down back to his sides. "Pathetic. You'd think Shao Kahn would have sent stronger fighters if he 'wanted to take down a couple of Gods."

Fujin decided to ignore his statement and try to convince him one last time. "I know you have lost hope in humanity, but the people of Earth need you right now. Now that Shao Kahn has invaded, it won't be long before the entire universe fall to their knees. You and the mortals were able to stop him last time."

"And look where it got us!" Raiden exclaimed, his deep voice booming. "They were to make sure that he was dead. Instead, he survived and recovered long enough to do it all over again. What makes you think this could be done again? It will only end with the same results. I will protect Earth. However, I will NOT involve the mortals, for only they will screw things up, just as they've done in the past. The Blood Tournament six months ago was our last chance to an end to it. Instead, my 'chosen ones' failed."

Fujin knew all about what transpired in Outworld over six months ago. Feeling angry now, he protested. "You can't squarely blame anyone. Your chosen ones did all they could to retrieve Chishio No Me. Shao Kahn was one step ahead of everyone. What happened has happened. Now we must put an end to it before it gets worse, despite past failures. THIS! … Thisis humanity's last chance to make it right! Because after this, there are no longer any more chances!"

Raiden turned his back towards his friend. "I no longer trust the mortals. Nothing you could say will change my mind."

A sigh escaped Fujin's lips. "Very well then. I must say, I'm rather disappointed in you. I've come to realize that I'm only wasting my time now. If I must finish what you've started, then so be it."

Fujin turned around and began heading to the edge of the temple roof. Before he took flight, he spoke one last time. "By the way, I'd suggestyou watch your back. The other Elder Gods have sent their hellspawn Champion to assassinate you. You are no longer useful to them."

Raiden heard Fujin fly away. He smirked once only the wind was heard. "So… they've finally got in contact with the spectre. At least he'll prove to be a worthy opponent."

Somewhere In Rural Japan

Despite the chaos that surrounded them outside the hut they were in, Yoshimitsu and Bryan Fury, sworn enemies, engaged in their own combat as though they were the only ones around. For a while, Yoshimitsu had kept an eye on Bryan, swearing revenge for the senseless killing of his clan members.

Now, this was his chance to do just that.

He kept his sword in his right hand, but Yoshimitsu didn't use his weapon just yet. He wanted to savior this fight and make it worthwhile. He jumped forward in attempt to knee Bryan in the chest, but the cyborg managed to sidestep out of the way. Bryan began to deliver a punch to the head, but Yoshimitsu managed to turn around and block the move with his forearm just in time.

For a while, the two threw punches at each other, each of them switching between offense and defense. At one point, Yoshimitsu was able to feel that the temperature in the air rise a bit, and the smell of smoke was becoming more prominent. He realized that the village he and his clan were trying to protect was now on fire. However, with the current battle he was in, there was no way he could help any of the survivors, at least not just yet.

I must find a way to get rid of this scoundrel and quickly! Yoshimitsu thought to himself.

At one point, Bryan was able to break through his nemesis's defense and was able to land a few punches to his face. Yoshimitsu ended up stumbling back and, while that happened, Bryan jumped up, ready to execute a kick to his face. However, the Manji Clan leader managed to shake off the pain and saw the incoming kick in time. Once the cyborg was close enough, Yoshimitsu quickly flipped backwards, his foot managing to hit Bryan in the chest. Bryan found himself flying back, but he eventually caught himself and somersaulted backwards to regain himself. Soon, he was back on his feet.

Neither one of them wasted any time as they both sprinted towards each other. Once they were close enough, Bryan attempted to aim another punch to Yoshimitsu's face. However, Yoshimitsu managed to duck under the attack and was able to land a hard blow to Bryan's gut with his shoulder. The force was powerful enough to send Bryan flying backwards through the hut. Then, he crashed through the hut's wall, tumbling into the outside world.

Yoshimitsu straightened himself up. With his sword in hand, he sprinted quickly towards his enemy as he started to get himself up.

Just as he managed to get outside, a small group of Tarkatans suddenly showed up in the area, both spotting Yoshimitsu and Bryan in the middle of their fray. With none of the nomads hesitating, they hurled themselves forward, intending on killing the two.

Yoshimitsu was able to clothesline the first one that came to him. However, the next one had come from behind him and was able to kick him square in the back. Yoshimitsu found himself flying forward, suddenly losing grip of his sword in the process.

After giving himself a moment to recover, he quickly rolled over to his back just as the Tarkatan that kicked him stomped it's foot down, only hitting the ground instead of him as it had intended.

Yoshimitsu got on his feet and kicked the Tarkatan away. He then turned around, his attention on the other Tarkatan. With it's blades out, it ran towards him. However, it never got close to him before it's head was suddenly cut off by someone with a weapon. Yoshimitsu only had to wonder for a moment who was behind the attack, thinking one of his Manji Clan members had come to assist him.

Once the Tarkatan collapsed, Yoshimitsu was shocked to see that it was Bryan who was behind the attack. However, his shock quickly turned into dismay and anger once he saw in the cyborg's hand exactly what he used to kill the Tarkatan. In Bryan's right hand, glowing in it's green color and mostly covered in blood, was his own katana!

Bryan let out a low, maniacal laugh once he noted what Yoshimitsu was staring at. "Don't think I killed the Tarkatan just to help you. I only did it because Iwant to be the one to finish you off." He raised the sword at eye level, the smirk on his face becoming wider. "Imagine… your life draining from you by your very own sword. How amusing that will be!"

"Enough talk!" Yoshimitsu yelled out. "If you wish to kill me so badly, then do it!"

The smirk disappeared from Bryan's face. Then swiftly, he jumped forward, doing a forward somersault before coming back down, lashing the sword right ad his adversary. Yoshimitsu saw this coming and managed to dodge backwards to avoid the attack. Bryan landed on his feet before he proceeded to swing the sword rapidly at Yoshimitsu, who was forced to duck, dodge, and jump back in order to avoid the razor-sharp blade.

Unknown to either of them at that moment, the first swing Bryan performed caused an energy to form. It's silver color eventually formed into an oval-shaped circle, representing a portal.

Yoshimitsu continued to move away from the swinging sword that was held in Bryan's hand. Eventually, the clan leader crouched down and attacked with a sweep kick. He managed to catch Bryan by his ankles tripping him. This gave Yoshimitsu time to get up and to a couple of back flips, leaving space between them.

The attack didn't phase Bryan as he got himself up. By then, Yoshimitsu noted the portal that was now directly behind his adversary. Both heard the humming noise that the portal made, but Bryan didn't bother to look to see what it was. It didn't matter to him right now. What mattered was killing Yoshimitsu as soon as possible.

Another maniacal laugh escaped Bryan's throat after a moment of silence. "Like I said before," he began to say. "You're going to wish you never found me!"

As Bryan began his approach, Yoshimitsu briefly looked at his surroundings. Many of the huts were still on fire and the villagers were still screaming for their lives as the Outworld Forces continued their terror upon them.

Fool! Yoshimitsu yelled in his mind. You let yourself fight Fury while the invasion is taking place! Now things are getting worse and you are only caring for revenge!

He knew he had to end this fight now. Revenge would have to wait a little while longer.

Yoshimitsu waited until Bryan was close enough, the sword raised above his head. When the right moment came, Yoshimitsu lifted his leg and, using all of his strength, kicked Bryan square in the chest. He watched as Bryan flew backwards in high speed, eventually reaching the portal… and going right through it as Yoshimitsu had hoped.

However, just as Bryan began to disappear through the portal's energy, Yoshimitsu gasped in horror… the cyborg still had a good grip on his katana!

"NO!" Yoshimitsu yelled out as he attempted to sprint forward. However, it only proved to be in vain once Bryan completely went through the portal, which closed immediately afterwards.

Yoshimitsu stopped in his tracks, his left hand clenching into a fist. "Chikusho…"

That's when suddenly heard a battle cry from behind him. Quickly, Yoshimitsu turned his attention to the Outworld guard who was approaching him fast, his own sword raised above his head. The Manji Clan leader simply waited for the right moment before maneuvering himself sideways, avoiding the sharp weapon. Before the guard had a chance to recover, Yoshimitsu got himself behind him, grabbing him by his head and twisting it until he head a loud pop! He let go after that as the guard fell forward.

Once that was done, Yoshimitsu noted the weapon the guard had held, realizing that it was a broadsword. Needing a sword now, he bend over to pick it up, taking it in his prosthetic hand.

"Don't mind if I take this," Yoshimitsu said out loud. "I'll need it until I can find a way to get my katana back."

Judging by the portal's silver color moments ago, Yoshimitsu knew exactly what realm Bryan had ended up in. He hoped that somehow, some way, one of his clan members in that realm would find him and try to get the sword back.

In the meantime, he would have to do all he can to help his fellow Earthrealm natives to survive the invasion…

Los Angeles, California

The heavy traffic on the freeways forced Alex Walker to drive her blue Toyota Corolla into the neighborhoods. Although other drivers had the same idea she did, trying to go East was more easier this way.

Meanwhile, Cyrax sat at the front passenger seat, a machine gun in his hand and his head peering out the rolled-down window. A towel was wrapped around his injured leg, a temporary solution until he received proper medical attention.

Ever since they drove into the neighborhoods, Cyrax hadn't done a lot of shooting at any enemies. He guessed that they were mainly going to focus on military bases and larger populated areas. Not too far from them was LA's downtown skyline, and Cyrax could see how much it was in chaos judging by the fires and the heavy smoke that surrounded it.

"I'm going to try to head North for a little bit," Alex suddenly suggested after some silence between them.

Cyrax slightly turned his head to her. "North? Don't we want to head East?"

Alex was silent for a moment before replying. "That's the thing… naturally, everyone is going to head East… or at least take boats off to the islands nearby."

Cyrax found her idea a little off. "I think they would go anywhere just to get out of LA. There's nothing but desert north of the valleys… hell, if we go south, Tijuana suddenly seems like a good place to go."

"I'm still going to head North," Alex said. "Once we get a clearing from all the traffic, probably after we pass the valleys, I'll head East." She sighed a little. "Might be a while…"

"A while? The valleys aren't that far, even in traffic. We'll probably be there before-"

Cyrax suddenly stopped mid-sentence as a thought suddenly came to him. He stared at Alex, now knowing what was on her mind.

"Alex, this is LA. Finding him is going to be like trying to find a needle in a haystack."

She bit her lower lip, realizing that Cyrax figured out what she was thinking. She exhaled. "I know…"

"I'm confident Kenshi will find his way to the Rockies when he gets the chance. Heck, maybe he and Jax will meet up and they'll both head over there. Besides… I get the feeling he would want you to head off and not try to find him."

Alex's grip on the steering wheel tightened, knowing that Cyrax was right. Still, she hated the idea of leaving Kenshi behind.

"Either way, I'm still going North." She turned into the next street in the direction she intended.

Cyrax shook his head a little before turning his attention back outside. "All right… but if we're not out of the city in one hour, I'm going to throw you in the trunk and do the driving myself, injured leg or not."

"For all you know, he could try to find us before we do," Alex mentioned. "You know how his senses are."

Cyrax suddenly noted a Tarkatan jumping towards the car. Immediately, he shot it down, the bullets going through it's body and killing it before it landed on the pavement.

"Maybe," Cyrax said. "But don't get your hopes up."

Alex sighed a little. "I won't…"

Japan, Somewhere Near Mt. Fuji

The alarm was ear-piercing, but that didn't bother Kazuya Mishima as he stormed through the Mishima Zaibatsu Headquarters. Wearing his purple fatigue pants, black military boots, a black vest over a purple fatigue shirt, and a pair of red fighting gloves, he had originally waltzed into the building as though he owned the place.

That's when Heihachi's guards went after them. The alarm had already went off even before Kazuya entered. At first, however, he thought it was all because of his trespassing.

For a while, he was able to get rid of the henchmen, taking them down with only one or two powerful moves. He would clear house for a while, making his way down a narrow hallway before more would go after him.

You'd think the old fool would be better prepared if his lackeys were going to face up to someone like me, he thought, almost amused.

Soon, Kazuya heard someone coming up from behind. He stood where he was for a moment before turning around and smashing their face with the back of his fist. The attacker crashing into the wall, leaving a large dent on it, before falling on it's side with a loud thud.

Immediately, Kazuya noticed that his latest attacker was dressed differently from the others. It wore green pants and was shirtless, part of it's upper torso contained some spikes on it, especially around the forearms and bald head. Using his foot, Kazuya turned it on it's back, soon noticing the long teeth that served as it's mouth.

Kazuya was more curious than anything. For a moment, he wasn't sure what this mutant was. Then he remembered… he had seen them during his time in Outworld, the realm where he followed Heihachi months ago.

"Hrm… don't tell me he made some new friends," he wondered out loud.

He looked up as he heard more footsteps coming his way. Immediately, he noticed more of these creatures coming towards him, now seeing that they all had long blades coming out of their forearms.

Getting into a fighting stance, Kazuya waited until they were close enough. The first swiped it's blades at him, but Kazuya managed to duck underneath them before delivering a punch to it's stomach. The force of his attack sent the mutant flying backwards, knocking down a couple of it's allies in the process.

Another approached with a forward kick, but Kazuya managed to grab it by it's leg swinging it into the wall and leaving yet another dent. Then, the last one standing approached. Kazuya managed to grab the nomad by the back of the head and knee in the stomach, causing it to keel over. While it still bent, Kazuya delivered a hand chop to the back of it's neck, breaking it and kill the mutant instantly.

Now that all was clear, Kazuya ran forward, eventually reaching a pair of closed doors. Unsure of what was inside, he kicked it down. He only managed to run in a couple of feet before he was forced to move out of the way. Whizzing by him was another nomad, who was defeated by whoever just threw him out the door.

Kazuya whirled around in time to see Heihachi deliver a head butt to another of the same mutant, the force of it sending it back through a window, the glass shattering into small pieces. It's screams were heard as it fell to it's death below in the cold night outside.

Kazuya raised an eyebrow as a realization came to him. He heard rumors of an invasion from Outworld, but he had believed it to be nothing more than a hoax. Now that he was seeing a bunch of them here, let alone fighting against the old man, he realized that this invasion was now actually happening.

It explained why the alarm was set off before he even entered the facility.

Heihachi noted another person in the room and turned his attention to them. His eyebrows immediately furrowed in annoyance upon seeing his son standing there, his arms folded in front of them.

"You!" Heihachi called out. "I assume you had something to do with these mutants attacking headquarters."

"You're a deluded fool!" Kazuya exclaimed. "I had nothing to do with this! It just so happens that I came in right after they did."

Before Heihachi could answer him, more of the nomads came into the room. All had their blades extended out, reading to fight the Mishimas. Wanting to get rid of these 'pests,' Heihachi and Kazuya positioned themselves in their fighting stances, ready to be rid of them.

And, just like in Honmaru months ago, they were both forced to join forces to fight a common enemy once again…

Hong Kong, China

The fight between Chun Li and Kira didn't last as long as most witnesses would think, if they had stopped to see the battle. The two women had left visible cuts and bruises on each other, and parts of their clothes were torn. Chun Li's dark brown hair was loosened from her white silk brocades that adorned her ox horn hairstyle. One of the bands that held up Kira's red pigtails slipped off, leaving half it flowing freely just over her shoulder.

Chun Li stood in a fighting position, her arms posed diagonally, and her palms opened and raised up by her wrists. Kira had lost her knives during the battle, forcing her to change into her Xing Yi fighting style.

After a moment of silence, Kira smirked a little. "I rarely admit this, but… you're tough. You're one of my better opponents. Still… it doesn't mean that I'm going to easily let you walk out of this alive."

Chun Li narrowed her eyes at her. "I didn't expect you to think otherwise."

The smirk on Kira's face faded. "Hmph."

Quickly, she shot her left arm out, letting loose a pink projectile that hurled itself towards her opponent. Chun Li managed to get herself out of the way, giving Kira the chance to jump forward while the Interpol agent was distracted. Despite this, Chun Li was able to see her in time and quickly blocked an incoming punch with her arm.

For what seemed like a while, Chun Li found herself on defense while Kira kept her offense, throwing various punches and kicks at her in hopes to breaking her resistance.

However, at one point, Chun Li managed to duck under a punch, giving her a chance to deliver a powerful hand chop to her abdomen, causing Kira to start gasping for air. Now finding herself on offense, Chun Li quickly delivered a few punches before knocking Kira back with a side kick, sending her stumbling back.

Kira was able to hold on to her balance, shaking away the new pain that was felt on her body. Before she would execute her next move, Chun-Li had managed to jump above her before wrapping her thighs around Kira's neck. Kira tried to get out of her grip, but the two soon fell onto the pavement. Chun Li twisted her body to make it harder for Kira to free herself.

"Now," Chun Li began to say. "Are you going to cooperate, or shall I make things worse for you?"

The fact was, however, that Chun Li was wearing silk stockings at this moment, giving Kira the advantage to slip her head out of her grip. She then rolled back to give herself room, and Chun Li did the same. They both got back into their fighting stances, their eyes glaring at each other as they waited on their adversary's next move.

Before either woman could move, a car nearby suddenly exploded from within the rest of the chaos. The shock wave from the blast caused Chun Li and Kira to separate from one another as they were both pushed back from their places. Eventually, Chun Li landed hard on her side and skidded a little before stopping.

The Interpol agent found herself coughing from the sudden debris that she felt enter her lungs. Rubbing her eyes from dust, she scanned her surroundings, hoping to find Kira. However, the red-haired criminal was nowhere to be seen, most likely taking the advantage of the blast to make her escape.

"Damn it…" she uttered.

Suddenly, a white car appeared nearby, coming to a screeching halt. Chun Li looked up at the vehicle, wondering who just parked next to her.

"Chun Li!" Lei's voice called out to her from inside.

The young woman's eyes widened. She almost forgot that Lei had run off earlier to pick up his car. Her fight with Kira definitely kept her busy.

Getting herself on her feet, Chun Li approached the front passenger side of the car. Once she was in and with her seat belt on, Lei pressed on the gas pedal, the car screeching as it gained speed.

"What happened to you?" Lei asked her, noting the cuts and bruises on her.

Chun Li shook her head. "Long story short, but let's just say I encountered Kira." She sighed to herself. "I tried to arrest her, but as you can see, it didn't work out too well."

"That's a shame," Lei replied. "But even if you did managed to put her in cuffs, where would you hold her? I get this funny feeling that the jails around here aren't exactly useful right now."

Chun Li chuckled a little, realizing that her fiancé was right. "I get the feeling Kira and I will meet up again later. Right now…" The look of determination came over her face. "We need to get to Yang and Yun before anything happens to them."

Lei nodded. "Right."

From there, Lei did all he could to get to the neighborhood the Lee brothers lived in as soon as possible…

Tokyo, Japan

For a while after leaving Eitai Bridge, Hwoarang and Mi-na rode on the motorcycle, trying to do all they could to get out of Tokyo. However, with the chaos around them, the idea was easier said than done.

Even on a motorcycle, Hwoarang found himself constantly maneuvering around speeding cars and running pedestrians. And many times they were stopped, they were also attacked by the Outworld Forces, who Mi-na killed off in self defense. By the time they reached Yoyagi Park after heading west for a while, the blade of Mi-na's kwan do was covered in blood.

Mi-na waited until Hwoarang stopped at an intersection before she spoke. "Where the heck are you trying to go?"

Hwoarang became more frustrated, already feeling so from all the moving around he was doing. "I said it before! I'm trying to get us out of here!"

Her eyebrows furrowed, not the liking the way he answered her. "Well, you're not exactly doing a good job!"

"Then why don't you drive?!"

"I would if I knew how!"

Before Hwoarang could reply, the two were suddenly kicked off the motorcycle, sending them flying a few feet before landing on the street. They ignored the sudden pain their bodies as they forced themselves to get up. Once they were on their feet, they found themselves face to face with another Tarkatan, it's blades out and read.

"I'm getting really sick of these guys!" Hwoarang called out.

The Tarkatan let out a loud roar before leaping towards them. With Hwoarang in his fighting stance and Mi-na with her kwan do out, they were both ready to take down the mutant.

Suddenly, they noticed a blue projectile coming from behind the Tarkatan. The two of them were barely able to comprehend what was about to happen when the projectile smashed into the mutant's back, forcing it to fly forward towards them. Once it was close enough, Hwoarang delivered a high kick, sending it upwards. It soon started to fall back towards the Earth, but it's head ended up being chopped off by Mi-na's kwan-do before it had the chance to land.

Once that was over, Hwoarang and Mi-na turned their attention to the person who helped them out. Hwoarang didn't know him, but Mi-na instantly recognized the man in the white gi and red headband.

"Ryu!" Mi-na called out.

Ryu heard his name being called and he turned his attention to the young woman a few yards away. Although the two didn't really interact during their time in Outworld, they knew who the other was.

Before he could reply to her call, a knocked-out guard was tossed between them, grabbing the three's attention. They turned their heads to the person who did the tossing. Mi-na let out a sigh of relief upon recognizing Jin.

Of course, Hwoarang wasn't too happy to see his rival. He wanted more than anything to take him down here and now. However, with the situation they were in, the red-headed Korean knew that it was going to have to wait.

"Kazama," Hwoarang said. "I figured I'd run into you sooner or later."

Mi-na stared at him. "Hwoarang, survival is more important right now."

Hwoarang clenched his teeth. "I know that."

By then, Jin and Ryu had approached the two. Once they were a couple of feet from them, Jin spoke. "If you two want to survive and fight back later, come with us."

"Where are we going?" Mi-na asked.

"Jin knows a place we can stay until we can find a way to end all this," Ryu replied.

Hwoarang folded his arms. "And how are we going to do that?"

The sounds of tires screeching suddenly caught their ears. The four of them turned around, only to be faced to face with a blue Honda Insight barreling towards them. Jin, Ryu, Mi-na, and Hwoarang managed to jump out of the way just as the car managed to slow down.

"Watch it!" Mi-na yelled out.

The driver in the car quickly rolled down their window before peaking their head out. "Sorry!"

Ryu recognized the driver. "Mika!"

Mika sighed of relief, at least knowing that someone she knew was okay. "Ryu!"

Cassandra poked her head out the window as well. "Finally! Some faces we know!"

In the back, King and Marduk sat quietly, both of them still wanting to pound each other right then and there. Marduk noticed Mika had stopped the car and talking to someone. He leaned over towards her.

"Hey! I don't think we have room to pick anybody up," Marduk mentioned.

Mika ignored him as Ryu spoke. "We're going to try to get us all out of the city. Jin knows a place we can go to."

"Where would that be?" Cassandra asked.

Ryu shook his head. "He hasn't said yet."

As this went on, Hwoarang took a moment to recover his bike, which contained scratches, but was still drivable. Meanwhile, Jin looked around for his own transportation. His eyes soon laid on a black motorcycle laying on the sidewalk on it's side with the keys still in the ignition. Jin ran over to the bike and pulled it up. Once it was right-side up, he started up the bike, it's engine catching Hwoarang's attention.

Hwoarang was almost amused at the idea of Jin riding a motorcycle as he never imagined his rival would. "I didn't think you could ride one of those."

Jin barely raised an eyebrow. "I didn't expect you to." He gazed at the others. "Everyone follow me. We're going to be heading south for a while."

Mi-na got herself on the bike Hwoarang was controlling. Jin looked over at Ryu and tilted his head sideways, letting him know to get on the bike.

As he approached the bike, Ryu was suddenly getting flashbacks of his first (and last) time on a motorcycle several years ago. It was his first time in America and Ken had taken him around town. It was already bad enough that Ryu felt like he was going to fall off the bike every time Ken went faster. Ken also insisted on doing a wheelie every second, which he did more of once he realized Ryu didn't like it.

"You're sadistic!" Ryu remembered calling out at the time. Ken had only replied with a maniacal laugh.

Now he was about to get on a bike again. Ryu still didn't like the idea, but at least he could trust Jin in not doing a wheelie on their way to wherever they were going.

Once everyone was ready to go, Jin drove forward, trying to avoid the running pedestrians on the way. Hwoarang followed soon after, with Mika not too far behind.

San Francisco, California

It seemed like forever before Paul and Marshall finally reached the neighborhood where Marshall's apartment was. There, he hoped to reunite with his son, Forrest. From there, all three of them would head off to the Rockies to meet with the other fighters Paul met during his time in Outworld.

Riding Paul's motorcycle, it was easier to maneuver around other cars and pedestrians. Still, they couldn't avoid Shao Kahn's henchmen who attempted to kill the two as they tried to ride pass them. Paul would sometimes use his own bike as a weapon, running over whoever got in his way. They would also use some punches to knock them away as well.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take," Paul said at one point. "My fists are starting to blow up, and I can hardly get my hands to wrap around the handles."

"Try to hang on," Marshall encouraged him. "We're almost at my place. I just hope my son is okay."

"He's a good fighter," Paul replied. "I'm sure he is."

"You better be right…"

Finally, they turned on the block which would lead to the apartment building. Just down the road, the two of them noticed a small group nearby. Paul pressed his foot further into the accelerator in order to get to the scene faster.

"Hang on!" he called out as the bike gained speed.

They soon got a better view of a few Outworld guards surrounding a small group of people. They seemed to fight well, but at the same time, it looked as through they were being overwhelmed.

The motorcycle's engine caught some of the guards' attention, and they turned around to see what was coming. When they were close enough, Paul extended his left arm out and managed to clothesline a guard, sending it somersaulting backwards in the air before landing hard on the ground face first.

The distraction gave the small group the chance to take down some of the other guards. Two other guards chased after Paul and Marshall just as the motorcycle came to a screeching halt. Quickly, Marshall jumped up towards one guard before landing a diagonal kick to his face. The other guard went after Paul, who managed to land a few punches on him, stunning him. While not on defense, it gave Paul the chance to grab the guard by the back of his hand, bending him over before kneeing him hard in the face. Some teeth and blood spewed from the guard's mouth before he fell forward unconscious.

"Dad!" a voice familiar to Marshall cried out. Marshall turned his head and saw his only son Forrest standing a few feet away. His face was covered in a bead of sweat and some blood from the enemies he fought had managed to splatter onto his clothes. Next to him were three male friends, who Forest had known since high school.

"Forest!" Marshall called out as he can over to him. Once he reached him, he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you all right?"

Forest nodded. "For now, we are." He frowned a little. "I guess I was wrong about this whole invasion thing being a hoax."

"Don't dwell on it right now, son," Marshall suggested.

A grim look appeared on the young man's face. "Do you think Mom's okay?"

Marshall frowned. "I hope so. I told her to meet us at the Rockies if this happened."

Meanwhile, Paul stood a few feet from the Laws. Nearby, one of Forest's friends happened to see the older man, his eyes widened as he recognized him.

"Hey," he called out. He waited until Paul turned his head to him. "Aren't you Paul Phoenix, the one who got his ass kicked by a bear in the King of Iron Fist Tournament last year?"

Paul narrowed his blue eyes at him. "Now's not a good time to bring that up, kid."

That's when everyone heard a sudden commotion nearby. They all turned their attention to the noise, only to see a group of more guards heading their way.

Paul cracked his knuckles upon seeing him. "Looks like another party is coming our way."

Forest suddenly turned his head to his father. "I need you to get out of here. My friends and I will take care of this!"

Marshall looked at his son in shock. "I'm not leaving with you!"

"Besides," Paul cut in. "Even at our age, I'm sure we can take care of these goons."

"That's not what I meant," Forest replied. "I mean, you two already have your own transportation. We don't. My car got crushed during the chaos."

At this point, Forest's three friends began making their way towards the guards, all ready to fight. This bought Forest a little more time to talk to Marshall and Paul.

"Besides," the young man continued. "It's better for a couple of us to get to the Rockies than for all of us to be dead." He smiled a little. "And don't worry… I remember where to go from here."

Marshall shook his head. "I'm still not leaving without you."

Paul placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, getting his attention. "He's right, Marshall. Besides, we both know that he can take care of himself, no matter what. You taught him well."

Marshall sighed. In his mind, he didn't want to leave his only son behind at a time like this. At the same time, he knew that Forrest and Paul were both right in their statements. Even though he was still reluctant, Marshall knew that this was the better option right now.

"Promise me that you'll make it to the Rockies okay," Marshall asked him.

Forest nodded as he placed a hand on his father's arm. "You know I will."

Paul patted Marshall's shoulder. "Let's go." He looked at Forest. "Be careful."

"I will."

For a moment, as Paul headed back towards his motorcycle, Marshall stood where he was, staring at Forest. Then, before he could give himself the chance to change his mind, he quickly turned around and ran over to the bike before sitting himself down. Marshall then gazed over at his son one last time, watching him join his friends in their own battle before Paul geared up the bike and sped away, intending on heading East…

Asia, Unknown Area

Standing on a hillside, Quan Chi looked down at the large village below. Not long ago, he was instructed by Shao Kahn to lead a group of Tarkatans and Outworld guards to destroy this place and kill or enslave everyone on sight.

Quan Chi smirked sadistically, knowing that the villagers were not expecting the incoming attack. 'What a surprise they will soon be faced with,' he thought to himself.

The sorcerer soon turned his head to the small army behind him. "Go! Leave no one alive unless they are worthy!"

The Outworld Forces did not hesitate at his command. Quickly, they all ran past Quan Chi, who stood in his place with his arms folded in front of him. For now, he would stay where he was, feeling that he was not need to take care of such a 'simple' task.

For a while, Quan Chi watched the beginning of the carnage. A sadistic smirk appeared on his face even more than before as the screams from the villagers reached his ears. Some clashing of weapons were heard, and a few buildings in the village were soon set ablaze.

"It'll be over for them before they know it," he said to himself. "At least mortally. Too bad their souls will continue to suffer."

Just as he finished saying that, the sound of a twig snapping was suddenly heard. Quickly, Quan Chi whirled around, expecting someone to be nearby. However, upon scanning the area with his red eyes, no one was nearby.

Not taking any chances, Quan Chi reached for the hilt of his broadsword, hidden in a scabbard connected to a black belt wrapped around his waist. He pulled it out only a few inches before stopping, deciding to wait for just a moment.

Then, the sound of rustling leaves were heard and Quan Chi turned his head again. This time, he managed to capture a shadowed figure before it quickly disappeared into a ball of flames.

The moment those flames dispersed, Quan Chi realized exactly who was here. "Shit…"

Rapidly, the flames reappeared again, this time just above him. Quan Chi attempted to back away, but was soon met with a foot to his face, the force of it sending him rearing backwards before landing on his back into the grass.

The sorcerer shook away the pain that suddenly developed. After clearing away the blur in his vision, he gazed upon his biggest enemy; the ninja spectre Scorpion.

Originally, Scorpion was on his mission to assassinate Dark Raiden, as ordered by the Elder Gods. He was scanning the surrounding areas when he noticed Quan Chi here. It was his chance to take care of the sorcerer.

"You…" Quan Chi growled.

Scorpion pulled out his mugai ryu sword, which was behind him in it's own scabbard. "We meet again, Quan Chi. This time, I will make you suffer!"

Quan Chi fully pulled out his sword from the scabbard. "I don't have time for your foolishness!"

Scorpion pointed to the area behind the sorcerer, where the village was being destroyed. "Is this how you killed my family and clan? By standing here and letting your henchmen do your dirty work?"

"Enough of this!" Quan Chi yelled out, raising his weapon. "If you want to fight so much, then do it! But remember, we're not in the Netherrealm any more! I'm not as weak here as I am there."

Not hesitating any longer, Scorpion jumped forward and launched himself towards his long-time enemy. Quan Chi stood where he was, ready for their latest battle.

Los Angeles, California

It was a long and grueling ride, but Ken was able to finally let out a sigh of relief the moment he made a turn onto the block that would lead him straight towards the gated community where his home was located. Soon, he would have his family in the car with him. Soon, they will all head towards the Rockies.

Already in the car with him was Julia, who sat next to him, and in the back was Sagat, who they picked up on their way over here. All was quiet between the three of them since Ken had explained to Sagat what they were doing involving the hideaway they would soon be heading off to.

Julia happened to look further towards the community they were driving to. She was beginning to get a sinking feeling the closer they got. She rested her chin on her clasped hands, not liking what they might run into.

Ken had noted this too. Upon seeing the broken gate, he realized that either his neighbors managed to escape, or… no, he couldn't think that!

I'm coming Eliza! Ken called out in his mind. You and Mel will be safe real soon!

He drove through the broken gate, pressing his foot further into the gas pedal in order to get to his home faster. He also took off his seat belt, just so he could get out of the car more quickly.

Julia happened to turn her head and gasped as she noted that some of the homes were already either damaged or destroyed. Some laid in a rubble, and some were engulfed in flames. There was no doubt in her mind that the Outworld Forces had already made their way through the neighborhood.

She turned to face Ken, who had a look of both seriousness and determination on his face. Julia wanted to say something, hoping to try to give him any comfort, but she quickly realized that it was best to stay quiet.

One minute after passing through the gate, Ken made a quick, sharp turn to the driveway that lead to his property. The actual house was surrounded by lush trees and a long, tall hedge.

The moment they passed that hedge, Julia gasped in horror. What was once a beautiful, two-floored mansion was now reduced to a rubble, just like the other houses.

"NO!" Ken called out. He got himself closer to the house before quickly pressing on the brake and got his Porsche in park. He jumped out of the car and began running towards the rubble, hoping to find his wife and son still alive.

"ELIZA! MEL!" Ken screamed out as he reached the pile of stones and bricks. He got down on his knees and began to dig through with his hands, proceeding to call out their names in hopes that they would hear him.

Julia soon got out of the car and ran towards the rubble, hoping to help out in Ken's search. Sagat got out as well, but more slowly. Already, he knew that the search would be in vain. There was too much to look through, and with how heavy the stones were, he knew that barely anyone would survive that, let alone a woman and her child…

Ken continued to search, pushing everything out of his way with everything he had. The back of his mind was telling him that this was all useless, but in his heart, he didn't want to stop. He felt his heart beating rapidly against his ribcage, the adrenaline continuing to rush through his veins.

Soon, however, he lifted one particular stone before stopping. There before him laid someone's right hand, the palm facing up, partially covered in blood, and unmoving. Whether it was Eliza's or one of his maids', Ken wasn't sure… by then, the tears in his eyes were blurring his vision. He also realized that he couldn't go further than this. If this was Eliza, would he even want to see what remained of her?

Nearby, Julia looked up and saw that Ken had stopped digging. She noted that he was staring at something, and she soon realized that there was no use in continuing the search. Slowly, she got herself back on her feet before walking over towards Ken. Looking at him, she saw that he was barely fighting back the tears that were threatening to escape, the despair written on his face. It was as though he wanted to mourn, but at the same time, it was as though he couldn't. Tears stung Julia's eyes as well, heartbroken that a woman and a young child were most likely lost within the rubble. She wanted to reach out and give comfort to her friend, but quickly realized that it was no use.

"Ken…" she whispered. "I'm so sorry…"

Ken bowed his head more, the strands of his shoulder-length blonde hair falling forward and covering most of his face. His hands gripped tightly on the piece of stone he had lifted only a moment ago, nearly threatening to break it in pieces with his strength.

A few feet away, Sagat stood behind him. The three of them were in silence for what seemed like an eternity. In the distance, the sirens continued to blare and the sounds of crumbling buildings reached their ears. The crackling sounds of fire were heard nearby as the wind in the air picked up, making their surroundings more chilly.

It was Sagat who finally broke the silence. "I know what I'm about to say won't bring comfort, but… with what's going on now, you have to go on. I know now that it seems like you can't, and you would rather be with them on the other side. You're one of the strongest fighters on Earth, and the world needs you right now. Your family would have wanted you to fight back. Don't let their deaths be in vain."

Ken only heard half of what Sagat said. However, what he did hear, he knew that, yes, he had to go on… for his wife, Eliza… for his son, Mel… for what was left of humanity. It would be the hardest thing he would have to do; to go on living without them… but if it meant not letting what happened to them be in vain, he would do it.

Slowly, he got himself back on his feet. A tear escaped his eye, but he quickly wiped it away. Although his heart was hurting from his loss, Ken knew that mourning would have to wait, at least for now.

"Let's go," he quietly said.

Julia nodded. "I'll drive if you want me to…"

Ken nodded in agreement. "Yeah… I think that's best for now…"

Ken, Julia, and Sagat returned to the Porsche, now with the intention of getting to the Rockies and meeting with the others from the tournament. For a long time after leaving, all was quiet between them…