Kung Lao looked behind him slowly to see Sonya wobbleing to her feet. Her face was covered with dark purple brusies. He stood up, and walked over to her quickly. He grabbed her by her arm, and helped her stand.
"Are you okay?" Kung asked softly.
"I'm fine." She coughed. Her eyes darted torwards Goro's body.
"You got him... good." She breathed. She then looked over at Johnny who was laying on his back without movement. She bolted over to him. She kneeled next to his body, and looked up at Kung Lao.
"Get Kano up." She demanded. Kung turned to Kano, who was on all fours with his back arched into the air. Kung lowered a hand to lift him up, but Kano declined.
"Don't worry about me. I'm golden." He said slowly reaching his feet. He put a hand to his temple, and closed his eye as the throbbing of his head was killing him. Both Kung Lao, and Kano walked over to Sonya, who was examining Johnny's body very carefully.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Kung asked. Sonya didn't answer.
"We've got to get Raiden, and get him out of here." She said finally. She stood quickly to her feet.
"Someone grab his legs." She ordered stiffly, as she slowly, and carefully slid her arms under Johnn's arm pits. Kano grabbed both of Johnny's legs, and slowly started to lift in motion with Sonya. As they did this Johnny gave a deafening scream. They slowly made their way to the exit of the lair, and once they reached the outside they slowly placed Johnny onto the ground. Not long after Raiden had teleported next to the group. His pure eyes spotted Johnny on the ground, and then looked up at the rest of his Earthrealm warriors.
"Johnny was brought down on Goro's knee. I think his back is broken." Sonya breathed quickly. Raiden nodded slowly.
"And of Goro?" He asked slowly walking torwards Johnny. Kano, and Sonya looked at each other carefully while Kung Lao moved slightly forward.
"I killed him." He said blankly. "He wasn't as fearsome as he thought he was."
"I see." Raiden spoke, crouching next to Johnny. He reached a glowing hand onto Johnny's body. Johnny grited his teeth, his eyelinds flinched, and he gasped as Raiden's hand disapeared into his stomach.
"Yes, I can feel the fracture on his spine." Raiden said slowly removing his hand from Johnny's stomach.
"Can you do anything?" Sonya asked sounding worried. Raiden stood to his feet slowly, and looked kindly into Sonya's eyes.
"My power does have it's limits. Burns, bruises, muscle tissue. That I can task. Broken bones are beyond even my powers." Raiden spoke as his face was slightly frowned. Sonya, and Kano looked slightly hooked on Raiden's words.
"You mean to tell me that you can't fix'em even though you're a fuckin' god?" Kano asked looking unimpressed. Raiden looked blankly at him.
"Yes." He said simply.
"Well, are you going to teleport him to a hospital or something?" Sonya asked hurriedly. Raiden nodded.
"I will indeed. I will send you along with him Miss Blade." Raiden said calmly. Sonya looked confused.
"Why would you send me with him?" She asked squinting her eyes.
"You are no longer needed in this tournament. I am fulfilling my end of our oath. You will leave with Mavado. I only ask that you remain at Johnny Cage's bedside until he awakes. I have no doubt that he would appreciate that." Raiden said smiling. Sonya rolled her eyes, and sighed.
"I didn't come this far in the tournament for nothing. Now I want to see how it ends." She huffed. Raiden shook his head.
"We have all but won. If it means this much to you I will inform you of our victory soon after it is achieved." Raiden explained. Sonya gave Raiden's words a lot of thought. She had originally only came to this tournament to capture, and arrest Mavado, and she had accomplished her goal.
"Fine." She said abruptly. "You have a deal." Raiden placed a hand on Sonya's shoulder. Soon everyone gathered around, and they all were teleported back to the camp that they have called home for almost a week. When they returned only Kenshi, and Mavado were seen. Kano, and Sonya looked around for Kabal, but he was no where.
"Eh, were did Kabal go?" Kano asked turning to Raiden. Raiden crossed his arms tightly.
"He informed me of a looming issue that had arisen in New York. I teleported him home." Raiden said brightly.
"What kinda issue we talkin' here." Kano raised his eyebrow in the direction of Raiden.
"He confined in me that the Red Dragon were hunting down his family." He answered half heartedly. Kano's jaw dropped, and his uncybernetic eye buldged. He unintentionlly twitched forward.
"They're after Devlin? Well, aren't you gonna send me too?" He asked. Raiden shook his head.
"No. If I send you home you will not be able to complete the task that your father has placed apon you." Raiden mentioned slowly. Kano looked at Raiden for a short moment. He gave a small grunt, and nodded as he closed his eye. Kenshi had risen from the log he had sat apon. He stood over Johnny, and lowered his head, as if he was listening to his grunts of pain.
"How bad?" He asked raising his head so that he was facing Raiden.
"He has a small bone fracture on the lower area of his spinal cord." Raiden said briefly. Kenshi crouched next to him. He placed a hand to Johnny's sweaty forehead.
"Sonya Blade. Are you prepared to leave?" Raiden asked turning his head in Sonya's direction.
"Almost." Sonya said aloud, as she pulled Mavado from the sandy ground. Sand was falling steadily out of his hair.
"Ugghhh! You smell like salt!" Sonya groaned, pushing Mavado out of her grasp, thus making him walk torwards Raiden of his own guidence.
"You can blame your friend Kabal for that!" Mavado shouted back at her. Kenshi looked up at them as they gathered around Raiden.
"Kabal is not my friend. More like a short term ally." Sonya corrected.
"So, you are leaving too?" Kenshi asked Sonya kindly.
"Yeah, the sooner I get Mavado talking at HQ the better." Sonya spoke glacing over at Mavado.
"Hmmn! Good luck trying." Mavado growled. Sonya gave him an incredibly nasty look. Mavado saw this, and looked away from her quickly. Kenshi stook his hand out torwards Sonya.
"It was fun Sonya." He said. Sonya stared blankly at his hand. She took it, and shook it stiffly.
"Yeah. See you around Kenshi." Sonya said smiling at the swordsman.
"Now see Mavado. That's my friend." Sonya said putting her hand on his shoulder. Mavado ignored her, and stared at the sand littered ground. With that Raiden crouched down to Johnny, and placed a hand on his chest. He then grabbed Sonya's hand, and the four of them teleported away with a blinding flash. The three men remaining sat around the burning campfire. The sky was starting to light up as the sun had poked it's way through the whitening clouds.
"This is it. The final day." Kung Lao's face was emotionless, as was his voice.
"It's about time too. Gettin' awfully sick of these damn fights." Kano muttered under his breath. His hand found it's way back to his aching skull. Kenshi lifted his head back, and tilted his face upwards. He took a deep breath.
"Shang Tsung dies today. Finally, I will get my revenge." He said almost relieved. Kung Lao looked over at him with a smile. Not long after Raiden had appeared behind the remaining Earthrealm warriors without another pure white flash.
"So when's the fight with the old man?" Kano asked cracking his knuckles, and then placing both his hands behind his head. Raiden looked over at him.
"Kung Lao will face him come nightfall." Raiden assured. Kenshi scowled at Raiden's words instantly.
"What do you mean Kung Lao will face him at nightfall?" He asked. His face was filling with red. Raiden looked carefully at Kenshi.
"I have chosen Kung Lao as Earthrealm's champion." He said blankly. Kenshi stood up at once.
"Maybe you forgot my reason for joining this squad?" Kenshi shouted standing in Raiden's face. Raiden wasn't fazed by Kenshi's outburst. He remained calm, and cool headed.
"I cannot allow your revenge cost us this tournament." Raiden spoke in a monotone voice. Kenshi was looking furious.
"What do you mean cost us? How would me getting my revenge cost us? I see it as hitting two birds with one stone!" Bellowed Kenshi. Raiden shook his head.
"Your rage could very well make you careless. Leave you open for Shang Tsung to exploit." Raiden tried to explain. Kenshi shouted, and started pacing around back, and forth at the shoreline.
"Do you have any idea what i've done to get to this place? What i've done to get to this moment?" Kenshi's heart was thundering in his chest. He couldn't believe what had just transpired. He felt betrayed. He couldn't allow anyone other then him to face Shang Tsung.
"All the people i've killed! All the jobs i've pulled! What... what I did to Dairou, and his family." Kenshi's voice had broken slightly. Raiden lowered his head.
"All of this! All of this just to get to him! To make him pay for what he did to me!" Kenshi shouted.
"I am sorry, but my choice remains." Raiden whispeared. Kenshi's face went stiff. He drew Sento from his back swiftly.
"No." Kenshi's voice went dead. "You don't get to decide." He said before turning to Kung Lao.
"Face me in combat. The winner gets to challenge Shang Tsung." Kenshi demanded. Kung Lao looked over at Raiden, who was staring back at him.
"Kenshi! Think about what you are doing!" Raiden had finally lost his cool. Kung Lao's beady brown eyes were glaring up at Kenshi's glowing sword. He slowly rose from his seat. He stood right in Kenshi's face.
"Enough Raiden! If this is the decision he desires, then let him make it. I have no issue with facing you for the status of Raiden's champion. Just know this. You are not the only person with reasons for fighting in this tournament." Kung Lao said running his hand across his bladed hat. His eyes remained fixed apon Kenshi. Kung made the first move. He rolled his two fist over, and over as fast as he could against Kenshi's stomach. Kenshi hunched over from the force, and was met with one hard right to his face. The punch staggered him. Kung grabbed him quickly, and threw him off his feet. Kenshi slid across the sand floor a good distance, before the friction stopped his momentum. He got to his knees. Sento was still gripped tightly in his hand. He stood up, and charged at Kung Lao. He held his blade straight out. Kung instantly pulled his hat from his head, and flung it torwards the sprinting samurai.
"Slide" Kenshi heard Sento call. He also heard the whishing of Kung's hat. He dropped to his knees, but his volocity forced him forward. He lowered his head backwards, and dodged Kung's hat by mere inches. Kenshi stood to his feet in disbelief. Lao's bladed hat was sticking into a nearby tree.
"Going for the kill are you?" He asked bitterly. Kung Lao started walking towards him.
"You pulled out your blade, so I pulled out mine." He said simply. Kenshi gave a stiff little laugh. He placed Sento back onto his back. He held his fist up, and focused on Kung's movments.
"I won't need her to defeat you." Kenshi grunted. He heard the shuffle of Kung Lao's feet, as he edged closer torwards him. He caught one of Lao's fist, and placed two of his own apon Kung's chest. The impact pushed him away slightly. He lowered his head. He listened for Lao's feet again, but was caught off guard when he heard Kung grunt loudly. The next thing he knew, Kung Lao's feet were rammed straight into his face. Kenshi stummbled greatly. He held his face. He suspected Lao to try another jumping attack, but this was not the case. Kung brought him down with a strong sweep. Kenshi could feel the pressure of his chest being mounted. Knowing what was coming he listened to Kung's fist as they swung, cutting through the air. He broke his shoulders free from Lao's pressure, and caught both shots to his face with his hands. Kenshi then forced Kung off of his chest.
Raiden looked on at the conflict with great amounts of disgust, while Kano watched the brawl with a wide smile on his face. Kenshi, and Kung Lao had both gotten to their feet, and were throwing an array of impressive kicks, and punches at each other. Neither one of them were holding back. Both men were detiermend to get the best of the other. Both men felt that they needed to be the one to challenge Shang Tsung. A test of strength was going on between the two.
"Do you want to end up like Scorpion?" Kung Lao grunted as he tried to topple Kenshi. Kenshi pushed at an equal force.
"What are you implying?" Kenshi asked sounding exteremly frustrated.
"You're going to let your thirst for revenge turn you into a monster!" Kung shouted through clenched teeth. Kenshi looked incredibly pissed off now. His pushing far excided Kung Lao's by a great amount. Kung had fallen to his back. Kenshi threw stiff, force driven stomps to Kung's chest.
"You're lucky I actually like you!" Kenshi screamed at the top of his voice. His kicks stopped shortly after.
"Get to your feet. Let's fight like men." Kenshi said stepping backwards slightly. Kung Lao laid his hands next to his head. He pushed them against the ground. His legs flew high into the air. He straightend out mid air, and landed on his feet. He sprinted at Kenshi, and bashed his face hard with left, and rights. Kenshi ducked a few, and landed a hard uppercut to Lao's jaw. Kung fliped backwards, and his feet caught Kenshi's jaw in the process. This caused both men to fall onto their backs. They both stood up slowly. Kung, and Kenshi walked torwards each other, and Kenshi went for a missed punch. Lao grabbed Kenshi's torso, and leaned him backwards. Kung then proceeded to bring almost twenty fist at a lighting speed across Kenshi's face. He would then place a shot to his gut, and lift him slightly with his knee before throwing him away. As Kenshi flew from his feet, Sento flew from his back. It landed a good distance next to him. Kung Lao watched as Kenshi struggled around trying to find his now non glowing blade.
"Give it up Kenshi! It's over!" Kung Lao called out almost sounding sad for Kenshi. Kenshi shook his head, and continued searching.
"Let's make a deal!" Kung said aloud. "You let me face Shang Tsung in this tournament, but I'll only defeat him!" He spat. Kenshi lifted his head in his direction.
"I won't kill him. I'll let you get the final blow after I win." He said calmly as he realized Kenshi was thinking it over.
"Hell, you can rough him up as long as you like. Just stop fighting with us." Kung said walking torwards Kenshi. Kenshi shook his head.
"I don't know. Last time I made a deal with any of you guys you found a way to not obey it!" He bellowed. Kung Lao stuck a hand out for him to grab.
"We're just doing whats best for Earthrealm at this point. I have no reason to hold you back after I win this. Now grab my hand." He demanded kindly. Kenshi hesitated before grabbing Lao's hand. He helped him to his feet. Both of them dusted sand off their outfits.
"Your sword's lying just a few feet to your left." Kung said warmly. Kenshi nodded, and picked up Sento. He placed it quickly on his back. Kenshi lowered his head.
"I'm sorry for the outburst. Just the thought of anyone killing that bastard but me just iritated me." Kenshi said facing everyone. Kung Lao nodded in understandment, while Raiden stared at him blankly.
"That is understandable. We all have gotten that way before. Just do your best to not let it happen again." Raiden smiled. Kenshi nodded slowly.
"Looked like a pretty good warm up to me! I don't think I could beat either of ya!" Kano laughed. Kung Lao walked a good distance from the group. He found his hat sticking tightly into a nearby tree. He grabbed it and placed it apon his head. Hours later everyone was completely over the whole incident that had just taken place. Raiden was coming up with a plan on how to overcome Shang Tsung's magic. He explained that Shang Tsung has the power to morph his body into any person he desires, as long as he as some of their DNA. Not only could he shift into their forms, he would also gain the powers of that person as well. This made Shang Tsung very upredicitable because he could change into anyone at anytime.
"That is everything you should be aware of. You are as prepared as you can get. This tournament is now all in your hands." Raiden's eyes focused on Kung Lao who nodded softly at his words.
"So all he has to do is say two words to cast his transforming spell?" Kano asked looking confused. Kenshi responded quickly.
"Raja compire." Kenshi said briskly. "He even used the spell back when I first met him."
"He has used the spell before even becoming the tournament's host." Raiden explained. Raiden turned his head back to Kung Lao.
"You should get some rest. You may need it for your upcoming bout. Shang Tsung is twice as powerful as Goro." He warned Kung Lao. Kung Lao nodded, and stood up.
"Yes I suppose I should then." He replied.