A/N: When the g key decides it doesn't want to work properly. Sigh. Raiden's changing. I saw how it ended in MKX, so I decided to make him, well, you'll see. Anyway, this might not be updated for a while, hence the quite a few updates this month. Halloween is a busy time for me, so the uploads may get a bit sparse. Sorry in advance. Hope it's an awesome, fun day for you all. Stay safe guys. Peace! :)

Intersect

Kara breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Cassie and her friends. She got off her stool and strolled over their way.

"Gods, I'm really glad to see you guys". The beaming smile on Cassie's face told her all she needed to know. "You kicked Shinnok's ass, didn't you?" She clapped the back of the blond's shoulder. "You are amazing. I wish I was as brave and 'bad-ass' as you when I was your age. I'm still not, at my age". She laughed. Cassie rubbed the back of her head.

"Eh, I know, I know" she teased, "Then again, we haven't actually seen you fight, so...".

Kara tilted her head. "So, what? You want me to fight? Some other time. I'm sore, and far too old for this shit".

She shut up abruptly when Cassie looked over her shoulder, failing to be subtle with the fact someone was behind her. The older women turned.

It was Sub-Zero and Jakal.

"Ah, Dad" she smiled, "it's good to see you", she bowed, "and you, Grand-Master. I finally feel I can breathe again now".

Sub-Zero answered first.

"And you. You have a knack for worrying us".

Jakal looked worn. "I was running myself ragged. I wasn't allowed here due to what was going on. But, dammit, I know I'm retired, but I'm not that old. I can still fight".

Kara was apologetic. She, her master and his wife had made the decision to retire him. He fervently disagreed, but, after his most recent injury, he had to admit. He wasn't a young man anymore. His body took longer to recuperate. This frustrated him, though he could see where his family and mentor were coming from.

"Sorry Dad. But everyone was injured here, some worse than others. I was terrified for Cassie and the others, and for Johnny who was taken. I didn't want to have to worry about you and Mom too. That's the only reason I didn't let you come here. Mom knew better too, didn't she?"

Her Father nodded. "Yeah". He rubbed the back of his head, clearly unhappy with retiring, and that he did not make the decision himself.

Sub-Zero patted him on the shoulder.

"We've had many years of fighting. I think we can allow the younger generation to take on the battles. After all, they have proven themselves proficient".

Kara beamed. "Too right they have. I need to go, I promised Kenshi that I'd help Takeda with his abilities. He's finding them hard to manage, and I figured with the time I was in the Jinsei Chamber, I'd have a better grip of them. Who'd have thought huh? Me, a teacher".

She chuckled and excused herself.

The hours ticked by, with everyone watching Kara teaching Takeda how to lift objects. Small things at first, then slow paced fights, with which the young man would lift Kara only using his mind, channeling the ability, letting it flow through his body. Impressed, Kara challenged him to a fight. Although the man knew they were friends, and that she wouldn't harm him, Kara wasn't about to go easy on him.

He found this out the hard way. He was a little slow in executing his attacks, giving Kara an edge on top of her quick dodging. She ducked down, span, tripping the young man, stopping him with her mind milliseconds before he hit the ground. Stephen, who was eagerly watching whistled and started clapping. Kara's face turned scarlet and she looked away, waving a hand behind her. That garnered laughter, making her wish the ground would swallow her up there and then...

As she helped Takeda up, a sullen, dark figure swept past the main hub tent swiftly. It didn't go unseen, and the surge of power she felt did not go unnoticed. It felt like someone had grazed her with...

Lightning?

The air fizzled around this figure. Yellow though, not blue...

Raiden?

The energy was scratchy, she didn't like it. She gave Takeda a concerned look and pulled him towards the group. She looked at Kenshi and raised a brow, talking to him without opening her mouth.

Did you feel that?

The swordsman nodded.

Raiden? Yes. Though, something is off. I can't quite place it.

Kara looked at the ground, biting her cheek, contemplating her next move.

I can place it. I need to speak with him, but, first?

She decided it could wait till tomorrow. People, her friends needed her help, not rapid fire questions thrown at them.

The next day found Kara speaking with Hanzo and Cassie in the medical tent, the topics dire. Nothing new there...

"I know what it's like to be tortured. Feeling like you're on a tightrope. That you could fall at any time, with no safety net below you. That's my interpretation of it anyway".

Hanzo nodded. "I know you're trying not to offend me. You went through something horrific as well as I. I don't wish to compare the two and fight over who's treatment was worse".

Cassie opened a new stick of gum, popping it into her mouth.

"Shit...", she raised a brow, "sorry. I don't know what to say other than I'm sorry you went through that. You both got through it though, came through it stronger and that's pretty damn cool".

She put her feet up on the desk in front of her. Kara shook her head.

"I didn't see much of it, or feel much for that matter. I know, it's odd saying this, at the time I didn't think it, but, I was really lucky that I didn't. I wouldn't want too. If anything though you are right. I trust the truce between the Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu will be a just, honest and impartial?"

The man in yellow and black robes nodded. "Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way. I just", he paused, rubbing his eyes then thumbing the scruff om his chin, "I cannot believe how long my misdirected anger was vented at your clan, at Kuai. It went on for too long. I could not stop it. It took over me completely and utterly. Devoured my being. Any want to battle it, seize my humanity back failed each time I tried to grasp it".

Cassie was quiet, unlike her, and Kara fell silent too. No one knew what to say. Truth be told? Nothing needed to be said.

A knock on the door brought the thee out of their sullen haze.

"Sorry to disturb. I need to speak with Kara".

Cassie puts her feet up on the desk. She gets glares from Sub-Zero and Hanzo.

"Cassandra"...

The frosty man's warning tone made the blond want to squint. However, she swung he feet off the desk, her boots clicking on the floor. Kara smirked and put her feet up, leaving Cassie confused.

"I outrank you. However, they", she pointed at her leader and Master Hasashi, "outrank me, so", she stood up, saluted and walked off laughing, with Sub-Zero shaking his head in tow.

Sub-Zero led Kara to Sonya's tent. She was typing away on a interactive pad, looking up for a fraction of second, before returning to her task.

"Kara. Cassie and the team gave me some worrying news".

"This is about Raiden, right? I saw him".

Sonya's eyes widened.

"When?!"

"Yesterday, whilst I was training Takeda. Why", she looked at the General, then Johnny, "what's going on here?"

Sonya paused, sadness flitting about her face.

"He's, different. After beating Shinnok, he needed to cleanse the Jinsei of the corruption. He did so, but it caused a huge bust of energy to come from it. It hit him, and he tried to redirect it back into the core, but failed. He absorbed it, well, he tried too, before blacking out. Before he did, Jacqui said his eyes were yellow, and his veins glowed yellow".

The younger General did a double-take.

"There was a change in the air when I saw him. What's worrying me is it only happened yesterday. I don't know if he'd be able to control the energy. After his ordeal, he'll need rest. He looked terrible".

Kara linked her shaking fingers behind her. Teeth began chattering. She had to hold it together. Not just for her sake. Crumbling yet again was something she wanted to avoid. The first thin that entered her mind wasn't sensible, given the situation she found herself in.

"Gods. I need a drink after that. Who's with me? I'll get the first round in".

Johnny stretched and yawned.

"Can we stay here? I'd be a useless wing man, I'm exhausted".

Kara chuckled. It wasn't simply from finding the man humorous, it was nervous laughter.

"Still trying to find me a guy huh.", she mumbled, "Not sure I want one".

Johnny smirked, snorting and rubbing his hands together mischievously.

"I'll get dinner started".

That earned him a hum of approval. Training all day created ravenous appetites...

The adults of the group sat around a fire, eating and drinking. Again, Mr Inappropriate decided to throw out some questions. Kara wasn't drunk enough to answer what he asked.

"Urgh", she sighed, "Can we not?"

Johnny frowned. "Why?"

The General of the Lin Kuei waved her hands.

"Just, no. It's, not", she cursed, "not in front of my superiors". She looked at the ground awkwardly. Embarrassment didn't cover it. The glass of rum in her hand looked rather tempting. The food on her lap no longer did.

"Oh come on. It's not like your barely of age now, is it?"

Kara rolled her eyes. She looked warily at said superiors.

"Alright. Fuck it. Don't judge me", she sighs, "I haven't been with anyone since Stephen, so, uh, seventeen years".

The actor was baffled. "Seriously? You're kidding me, right? Like you couldn't get a guy".

Kara's voice fell quiet, it held a sad note.

"Seriously. I guess I didn't want to mess around. I could have but it isn't me. I'm more of a relationship person, not be with someone for five minutes, then leave. Call me soppy or whatever, but I prefer love over letting some guy I don't even know inside me". She waved a hand and sipped more of the dark amber liquid, wincing as it stung all the way down her gullet. "Thanks, but I'll pass".

She wasn't answering any more questions. She fell silent, leaving shortly after.

She walked into a tent, trembling, unable to think straight.

Sorry. I just can't right now. Not now.

That was her excuse to get away from her friends as she heard them talk about her, quiet concern evident.

I'm okay, just had a little too much to drink. Going to head home.

A reassuring answer whilst simultaneously being a lie.

Her thoughts drifted to the vagrant man she'd spotted earlier. He wasn't supposed to be seen, only eagle-eyes caught him. Her keen sense also felt his presence. It felt off-kilter. this bothered her more than her currently inebriated brain would like to admit. She knew the man needed time. She wasn't about to give him any.

She created a portal and walked through determined but blindly striding to her destination.

Kara ended up somewhere she knew she shouldn't, but she wasn't leaving without some kind of answer. That was why she was here. She found the door locked, so she focused on the living room of the home, teleporting into it.

Raiden was there, and so was a darkness. It surrounded him, covering him in obsidian, shimmering darkness. Kara swallowed, facing away from him..

"You're about to tell me you're fine. And yes, I am inside your mind".

"I am fine".

An uncharacteristically small voice had her turning, dumbfounded. Her mouth twitched, disdain evident.

"You can lie to them. But not to me. Never to me. Don't you dare".

Alcohol had made her bolder, more stubborn. She would get an answer, she would pry.

Perhaps a little too much? She did not care. He inhibitions were lowered now, and so was her guard...

"The visions are frequent now, aren't they? One after the other?"

"I see my own destruction, and Mileena attempting a coup. She, Rain, Tanya and Kano will attack Kotal. I did not see if he survives this or not".

Kara shivered, shrinking back.

"No, she won't, not if I have anything to do with it. She needs to be put to rest, and I am done sitting around, nursing my injuries".

Whilst she could still fight, she would do, with every fiber of her being.

And whilst on the topic at hand...

"Kill me then. I wish to stop you, and you don't want to be stopped. You could just click your fingers" she did so for effect, "and poof, my life is snuffed out. I'm not about to leave here without an answer, and I will not let you 'self-destruct'".

She sat down on the couch and put her arms beside her head. Raiden smelt the alcohol on her breath as she walked past him.

"You're drunk Kara. Go home".

She scoffed.

"No, I am not. I can handle my liquor thank-you-very-much. Don't give me that, it's insulting".

The alcohol had indeed lowered her inhibitions, and she did not know it, but her voice was raised. She sounded exasperated, and she was. She was done with this, done with him. Something was drastically wrong, she could feel it, see it. Blackness shifted to less oppressive topaz, draping him in a haze, like a veil. His body was covered by this veil. This did not feel as harsh, unflinching.

"You really wish to know? I am done with it. Done with people attacking Earthrealm and me letting it get terrible before stepping in. Anyone attempts to harm the realm again, I won't be so kind".

Kara shrunk back, an eye involuntarily twitching. She was second-guessing herself.

"You're right. I must be drunk. I misheard you".

He didn't answer. The woman stood up, leaning against the chair. The thud of her heart was all she could hear, all other sound drowned out as reality hit her.

"So, you would kill. You would kill me then".

As this sunk in, Kara's body ran cold. It felt like ice flowed in her veins, causing a headache inducing pain. Her head throbbed, though, from the liquor, or from tiredness she didn't know. Worry had her fight or flight light blaring before her eyes. She had to decide whether or not to run from a man she trusted completely, and staying behind, still giving him her trust. This, with a hazy brain meant she felt she couldn't make a rational decision.

The man she trusted began shifting, changing before her very eyes, and she had no clue how to proceed.

She debated whether or not to sit back down, before she fell down, her feet suddenly felt unsteady, her legs like jelly.

Kara cursed her indecisiveness. She should have grown out of that by now, surely?

Apparently not.

What she said next not only took her by surprise but Raiden too.

"If you turn on any of my friends, I will fight back", she laughed bitterly, "I don't have a hope in hell of beating you, but I won't stand idly by and let you murder everyone".

Venom laced from her words, seeping, burning the air.

With that, not trusting her feet, she teleported outside and levitated through the portal.

Kara walked into the hub tent, a grave look on her face. Only Johnny was there. She payed this no mind, said mind all over the place to properly concentrate.

"He may turn on us. The sheer volume of power he has now is unbeatable. We need to be on edge from now on".

She left as quickly as she arrived, frantically creating an entering the portal to her home. Impatient, stressed hands fumbled with her keys, a sigh leaving her mouth when she managed to open it.

She began shaking, knees knocking, the ground and surroundings around her blurring from watery eyes. She couldn't do this. Gods, she couldn't. It hurt too much. Even breathing shot pain through her lungs as if she were being stabbed. She collapsed onto her couch, heaving out sobs. No one was there to comfort her. She no longer cared that she was an adult, she wanted comforting. A blanket, her blanket, anything to grasp onto. Tether herself, link herself, root herself back into this world. Her anchors were someone else's anchor, but at the time, at this time of need, she wasn't thinking straight.

She picked up her phone and texted Jakal and Stephen. She considered Cassie, knowing the blond would make her laugh, cheer her up. Though, she had her own problems to worry about. Kara wouldn't be selfish and ask her to help. Irony smacked her as she knew she was being selfish asking her Dad to leave her Mom, asking Stephen to leave his wife and children.

...I need help.

There. She admitted it. She was focusing on herself for a change. The fact remained however.

Sometimes, in life, you just had to be selfish...