Jaune Arc multiverse: the reaction

by Arcanus the scribe

A spin off of the 'Jaune Arc Multiverse.' Team RWBY and NPR, as well with some others, are brought to the temple of the scribes. They are brought there in order to witness the full potential of Jaune Arc. At the same time, learning about a calamity coming to their world and how Jaune Arc fits in all this. [Slow Chapter Update]

6. Mortal Kombat part 3

Jaune Arc Multiverse: The reaction.

Disclaimer: This is a fictional fan-made story. I do not own any of the properties and/or characters that are shown, or read, in this story. The only characters I claim ownership are the ones that I have created for narrative purposes, i.e. OCs. They all belong to their respective owners, though I suggest you check out these properties to both quench your own curiosity and to support the creators. If you see any spelling, grammatical, or narrative errors please let me know. I also allow constructive criticism because it allows me to improve my writing skills and to make this story better. If you have some requests please let me know and I will go over them, but don't go overboard with the requests. So please, DON'T BE A DICK IN THE COMMENTS and say my story is crap, thank you and enjoy.

A/N: I am only going to skip most of the fights for this MK chapter only. The reason why is because I'm lazy and this chapter is going to be way too long. Sorry not sorry.

Chapter 6 part 1

Everyone sat down as the screen began to play the next viewing. The dragon logo appeared on the screen once more. Indicated to the audience what universe they were watching now. However, before they could start watching a note appeared before them. All of them were confused until Ozpin walked up and picked up the note.

"Due to technical and multi-dimensional errors, most of the fights in this viewing will be cut short. Including the amount of time Jaune Arc will be included." Ozpin read. This caused everyone that's battle happy and/or wanting to see Jaune kick ass and look good to groan in disappointment.

Ozpin cleared his throat, grabbing the attention of everyone present. "Furthermore there will be several more attendees in the audience. -Arcanus. P.S. You might want to cover your eyes." Ozpin finished as he and everyone were surprised on who was coming. These questions were answered when a bright flash appeared in the room. Causing everyone to shield their eyes.

Once the light died down, it revealed three individuals, a woman with blonde hair and tanned skin, a man dressed in a military uniform, and a woman with black hair, red eyes, who looked a lot like Yang.

"Hey Sis, long time no see." Qrow said bitterly as he and Tai narrowed their eyes at her. Yang however was conflicted about what to do or say. Right here and right now was her biological mother, the woman who had abandoned her as a baby. The woman who she tried to look for and ask her why. Why did she leave her family? But Yang didn't do that, she simply sat there quietly. Staring.

"Qrow. Tai." The bandit leader said coldly. Raven's gaze briefly met with Yang's. This caused the blonde brawler to tense at this.

"Ozpin? Where are we?" Ironwood asked.

"Well it is hard to explain James." Ozpin replied.

"Well explain it then, cause I'd like to know how the hell I ended up here?" Robyn Hill asked.

"Robyn?" Angela asked, causing Robyn to turn to the Arc family. This caused her to go wide eyed, as they did the same.

"Jonathan? Angela? How-." Robyn was cut off as she was quickly brought into a warm hug by Angela. At first she wanted to break the hug but Jonathan and Saphron joined in the hug. Terra stayed as Adrian began to wake up, yawning.

Robyn's face was soon adorned with a sad smile and she returned the hug.

A loud cough caught their attention as everyone turned to Raven. She had her arms crossed, looking deadpanned.

"You three are brought here to watch universes of one Jaune Arc." Ozpin explained.

The three newcomers raised eyebrows as they were confused at the reason.

"Jaune?" Robyn asked as she turned to Jonathan and Angela, who nodded in response.

"Why are we watching universes that pertain to this weakling?" Raven asked coldly. This caused many to glare at her.

Hell, Pyrrha and Blake felt like slapping a bitch. Especially Angela. However, Raven was grabbed by the collar of her shirt. She was brought face to face with one angry Robyn Hill.

"Talk shit about him again and I will make your life a living hell." She snarled. Raven simply looked at her unimpressed.

"And what are you going to do about it?" Raven shot back.

Suddenly Raven was violently pulled out of Robyn's grasp. The bandit was now face to face with Jonathan. His face was perfectly calm, but his eyes told another story.

"Remember what happened with team QRTR?" Jonathan asked in a calm tone.

Raven, and those that were there for the event, paled. Meaning Qrow, Glynda, James, Angela, Robyn, and Tai began to tremble. Raven soon widened her eyes in fear. Genuine fear.

"You wouldn't." She said, her voice filled with terror.

"Try me." Jonathan said.

Raven tried to keep a brave face but eventually she relented.

"Fine… I apologize." Raven said in fear. Jonathan simply let her go as soon as she apologized.

"Good." Jonathan said as he gently patted Raven on the shoulder, with a smile on his face. "Now, sit down and shut up." He ordered. Raven surprisingly obeyed and sat down in one of the chairs.

"Ignoring that, but indeed why are we watching universes about one of your students, Ozpin?" Ironwood asked.

"Our host, Arcanus, tells us that our Jaune Arc is a part of a great prophecy." Ozpin explained. This got the attention of all three of them.

"What kind of prophecy?" Ironwood asked before looking around and turning back to Ozpin. "Does it have to do with something about Her?" Ironwood asked in a whispered tone.

"I'm not sure. Our host was extremely vague about it." Ozpin said. "But, all we do know is that Mr. Arc is destined to stop an upcoming calamity."

The three newcomers once again felt their eyes go wide.

'Hmm. Perhaps this boy could be worthy of joining my clan. Though I still have my doubts.' Raven thought to herself.

"So which universe are we watching?" Robyn asked as she wanted to change the subject.

"Oh, just one where Vomit-boy is an assassin in another world." Yang said nonchalantly.

"What?!" Robyn practically shrieked. Luckily, Jonathan managed to calm her down.

"I suggest we sit down and watch." Ozpin suggested it to everyone. The audience did what he said, albeit for Raven begrudgingly.

~

The scene opens in a cave adorned with stone statues. The camera pans down to show various human-like figures, who are in fact the Elder Gods. Johnny Cage begins a narration. "Millions of years ago, Shinnok, one of the Elder Gods, turned on his fellow deities and invaded Earthrealm." The camera finishes it's pan down, revealing Shinnok cowering before five of the Elder Gods, who's statues tower over him. The scene cuts to a shot of a chain, and the camera pans up to show Shinnok imprisoned in them amongst stone depictions of hellish scenery. "Raiden and the Elder Gods stopped Shinnok. Locked him up in the Netherrealm." Johnny continued.

~

"Hmm. Interesting." Ozpin mused to himself as he took a sip from his mug.

Everyone else was in awe as they were learning more of this world. A war between gods for the fate of Earthrealm. Though some of them were put off the imagery of this Netherrealm. The mere sight of it made them feel off.

~

The shot fades into another, a slow pan over a stone warhammer that reveals Outworld's most notorious emperor, Shao Kahn.

"Others followed in Shinnok's footsteps, like Outworld's emperor Shao Kahn, who was obsessed with conquering Earthrealm." Cage added. Cut to a shot of a Raiden statue, poised to fight, with Mortal Kombat's iconic dragon logo behind him. On opposite sides of the logo

stand statues of Goro and Shang Tsung. "So Raiden convinced the Elder Gods to enact the Mortal Kombat tournament as a way to even the odds... give Earthrealm a chance."

~

Ironwood took time to analyze Shao Kahn and the information that was said. If he knew anything, this Shao Kahn would stop at nothing until he gets what he wants. It mirrored themselves as he and Ozpin tried their best to stop Salem from destroying Remnant.

His mind quickly drifted to what Ozpin said earlier. The prophecy about the Arc child. If he is supposed to prevent a calamity then he can help defeat Salem. He needs to talk to Ozpin about it.

~

The camera pans past Raiden to center on the logo itself, then it fades into a shot of Kano dueling Sonya, before circling around a depiction of Johnny facing three Tarkatans at once.

"For generations, Shao Kahn followed the Elder Gods' rules. The war moved to the arena, where he sent his toughest fighters to challenge Raiden's greatest defenders in Mortal Kombat."

~

"And this Shao Kahn found a way to cheat." Ironwood said as he folded his arms.

"What do you mean James?" Glynda asked in confusion. Before Ironwood could answer, Qrow spoke up.

"A guy like that? There's no way he'd follow the rules fairly." Qrow stated as he took a sip of his flask.

"This "Shao Kahn" is no match for me. He looks nothing but brute." Raven said as He crossed her arms and leaned back.

"Please, you wouldn't last a minute." Qrow said spitefully.

"What makes you so sure little brother?" Raven asked mockingly.

"Call it a hunch." Qrow said.

~

The camera pans over to Liu Kang punching a hole in Shao Kahn's chest, with background noise of the fight sounding out over Johnny's narration.

"Two years ago, we beat him."

In the background noise, Liu Kang's final blow of the bout is heard, as is Shao Kahn's death scream

"But Shao Kahn wasn't ready to lose."

Cut to another shot of statues, this one showing Tarkatans attacking Earthrealm's military forces. The screams and sounds of slaughter are once again heard in the background.

"He violated the rules of Mortal Kombat and invaded Earthrealm."

~

"Yep. Just as I thought." Qrow said as he leaned back.

Ironwood didn't say a word as he simply nodded in agreement.

~

Fade into a depiction of some of the fallen bodies of the Forces of Light - Liu Kang, Kitana, Kung Lao and Jax lying broken on the ground.

"Most of Earth's defenders - our friends - were killed. Turned into evil undead warriors."

Fade into the statue of Shao Kahn, now ensnared and being bitten by dragon serpents - the Elder Gods in corporeal form. His mighty warhammer falls to his side and out of frame. The statue begins to crumble into pieces.

"Despite the odds, we stopped Shao Kahn's invasion. As punishment, the Elder Gods destroyed him."

As the camera pans up to his face, we hear one last cry of defeat from Kahn as his statue completely falls apart.

The camera cuts to and circles around another statue, this one holding a familiar looking amulet with an emerald at it's centre.

"We thought the long nightmare was over. But it turns out that Shinnok had been manipulating events."

The camera finishes panning up to Shinnok's face, and also shows a statue of Quan Chi over his shoulder.

"Shao Kahn's invasion, his death... all part of Shinnok's plan to escape the Netherrealm and resume his war on the Elder Gods."

The camera slowly zooms into Shinnok's face, and the statue's eyes begin to glow with an unholy fire, turning from red to yellow and finally white. As they do so, the screen fades to white as well. It fades into an Earthrealm city in Japan devastated by war. A dead soldier falls on his front, an ugly gaping hole where his face should be.

~

The ones in the audience not used to death felt squeamish at the sight. They all knew that their job was going to have a lot of people die because of the Grimm or bandits or some other threat. Though that doesn't mean they have to like it.

The ones that are more used to death slightly flinched. It wasn't the worst they had ever seen but it was still gruesome.

~

Others run past his body, and suddenly a large flying beast that resembles a gargoyle grabs one of these soldiers, lifts him into the air and drops him. Another soldier is tackled into the concrete by a demon moving almost too fast to see. Several other soldiers meet the same fate.

One soldier pauses long enough to open fire at the flying beasts with his assault rifle. He gains nothing for his efforts except the ire of one beast who lands on a nearby overturned car. As he turns to it, the hellbeast lets out an unholy roar of terror and grabs the now-screaming soldier by his head, tearing it off his body. As the beast drops his head from it's toes and roams the evening sky, it is shot by high-powered bullets from a helicopter's gatling gun. The monster squeals and falls dead to the ground below as several helicopters fly towards the screen.

The camera switches to follow one of them.

Chapter one: Johnny Cage.

Inside the helicopter, Sonya Blade is co-piloting. The movie star of the title chapter walks up to her seat and leans on both it and the seat of the pilot's, staring into the world beyond the windscreen.

"Destination dead ahead." The pilot said.

"Set 'er down nice and easy for me." Johnny ordered.

"Don't I always?" The pilot shot back with a smile.

"If by "always" you mean "not once"." Johnny shot back with his own smile.

They both share a chuckle at this comment.

~

This caused many of the older and experienced huntsmen to let out a dry chuckle. Especially Qrow as there were times where that has happened to him.

~

Cage looks over to Sonya.

"Major?" Johnny stated.

Sonya looks at him, then rises from her seat. She strides to the back of the helicopter where six other soldiers are taking their seats. Also among them is the blind swordsman known only as Kenshi, who remains standing. Johnny looks on in admiration as Sonya walks up to her men. She turns round and flashes him a smile, and he walks up to join them.

"Alright, you have the rendezvous coordinates. Far edge of the forest. From there, we access the portal to Raiden's sky temple." Sonya began to debrief the soldiers.

"Where there's an angry former Elder God and his devils waiting for us." Johnny added.

One soldier seated among them doesn't appear to quite believe what he's hearing (or what's happening around him).

"Gods, portals, flying demons…" The soldier began to speak.

~

"Are they not aware of what's going on?" Yang asked. The blonde brawler was simply confused by the soldier's skepticism.

"To be fair if someone told us we have to fight demons we'll probably take it with a grain of salt." Weiss gave an explanation.

"Yeah but it's another thing when there are literal demons outside the bullhead." Yang explained back. Weiss was about to speak again but was cut off by Yang. "Especially when they gunned one down just a couple seconds ago."

Weiss pondered on Yang's words for a bit. "Fair enough."

~

"Blind guys with magic swords…." Johnny added as he looked at Kenshi.

Kenshi turns in his direction at this.

"The world has changed. For the worse if we do not expel Shinnok from Raiden's temple. He means to poison Earthrealm's life force - the Jinsei." Kenshi explained.

"And we're not gonna let that happen." Sonya said with determination.

"Kenshi and I appreciate the Major allowing us to join you. We're happy to help kick Shinnok's bony ass back to the Netherrealm." Johnny said.

The muffled sound of explosions outside of the helicopter gets everyone's attention. Johnny, Sonya and Kenshi race back to the front of the chopper in time to witness one of the helicopters in front of theirs catch fire. Sonya quickly takes the co-pilot seat again. As a fireball races to the left of their chopper, the helicopter on fire crashes into the ground, utterly destroying it. Another fireball explodes on the side of another chopper in front of them.

"You gotta land this thing!" Johnny yelled to the pilot.

As the second chopper on fire crashes and explodes, the windshield suddenly shatters as a kunai attached to a chain bursts through and impales itself in the face of the pilot.

~

"Monty!" Curse Tai. He and the others were completely off guard by it. Blake however, went wide eyed in realization.

"Wait, that's the weapon that belonged to that yellow ninja." She spoke out loud. Everyone turned to Blake.

"Are you sure?" Weiss asked.

"Yes I'm sure." Blake replied.

"Wait, but isn't he like a good guy? He was talking to Jaune like they were friends." Ruby said.

"Maybe this was before he met Jaune." Ren said.

"What makes you say that Renny?" Nora asked with an arched brow.

"Well, they're much younger than what we saw of all of them last time." Ren explained. Everyone stopped and thought for a moment before realizing what Ren said was true.

~

"Shit!" The movie star cursed.

The pilot barely has time to let out a cry of agony before he is dragged back through the windshield, breaking it apart on his side. In the co-pilot's seat, Sonya desperately tries to keep the helicopter from crashing. As Cage looks on in concern, a sound at the back of the chopper grabs his and Kenshi's attention. As they turn around, the soldiers also look up to find someone else standing right in front of them, as if he'd just teleported there.

That person is the ninja spectre known as Scorpion.

Before the soldiers can react, Scorpion kicks two of them in the chest, then knocks out the one in front of him with a straight right hand. Heelbows the one behind him for another one hit knockout, then draws his sword in the same motion and decapitates the next two soldiers in front of him. The hellspawn buries his sword in the face of the fifth soldier, then draws his second sword and backhands it through the belly of the sixth soldier. He slips the two swords back into their sheaths as the final two soldiers fall dead, all in the space of about six seconds.

As Johnny and Kenshi start forward, Scorpion throws a fireball that catches Kenshi dead center and hurls him back against Sonya's seat, knocking him out of the fight for the time being.

Scorpion hurls his chained kunai straight at Johnny.

"GET OVER HERE!" The spectre yelled out.

~

"Now that's a bad ass catchphrase." Yang said.

"I know right." Ruby said excitedly before turning to Blake. "You should say that on one of our missions."

"What? Why?" Blake asked with a raised eyebrow. The Cat Faunus looked at her young leader with confusion.

"Well you have your ribbon attached to Gambol Shroud. You could pull it off." Weiss said surprisingly.

Blake pondered the thought for a minute. The hesitation is visible to her friends, which causes Yang to whisper something in her ear.

"I bet Jaune would like it if you did that." The brawler teased.

This caused the Cat Faunus to blush madly. Her mind instantly goes to a fantasy of her and Jaune playing out a certain scene in ninjas of love. The one involving a lot of bondage and dominating.

"Maybe that doesn't sound like a bad idea." Blake muttered.

This caused Yang to laugh while Ruby and Pyrrha glared daggers at the cat Faunus.

~

Johnny catches the kunai and brings it level to his face, eyeing it up.

"Damn, I'm good!" He praised himself.

Johnny launches into a Shadow Kick, catching Scorpion in the chest and almost sending him out of the back of the helicopter. He gives the chain a good tug, dragging Scorpion back towards him, where Cage grabs him and slams him against both sides of the chopper. Scorpion recovers quickly and throws a right hand at Johnny. He blocks it, parries two more of Scorpion's strikes, dodges a sidekick and smashes into the back of the ninja's head with a superman punch. Scorpion pulls out an unchained kunai and charges in at Cage, who just barely manages to block the wraith's forearms and avoid being stabbed. Cage desperately struggles, but he is forced to the floor by the undead power of Scorpion. Moments from death, Johnny finds the strength to shove Scorpion's arms away, then he kicks the ninja away from him. As Scorpion staggers back, Kenshi lunges at him and tackles him out of the open side door of the chopper. Scorpion manages to latch on to the side handle, with Kenshi desperately hanging on to his leg. As Johnny lies on the floor of the chopper, he notices another person has just entered. As he rolls to his knees, he gets a good look at who it is; it is Sub-Zero.

~

"Wait, is that Sub-zero?" Pyrrha asked in disbelief.

"Yeah it is.!" Nora exclaimed.

"Why is he a bad guy?!" Ruby asked. The ones that were here earlier wanted to know as well until Ozpin pointed out something.

"It would seem that Sub-zero, at this point in time, was under the control of Shinnok. Though I suggest we continue watching." He stated. Everyone nodded at his words and turned to the screen.

~

Or more specifically; the undead Kuai Liang, no longer a cybernetic husk, but a revenant under the control of Quan Chi.

The two soldiers knocked out by Scorpion earlier awaken in time to see Sub-Zero before them. They both try to punch him, but he blocks their attacks, freezes their heads and then smashes them together, shattering them into blood, ice and bone. Sub-Zero throws the headless corpse of one of them at Johnny, who manages to avoid it by dropping into his split-legged stance. Another soldier's decapitated head (one who had it chopped off by Scorpion earlier) rolls in front of Cage, who quickly knocks it out of the helicopter.

"Eugh, nasty!" He said in disgust.

~

Everyone let out a chuckle even though it was a bit dark.

~

Sub-Zero creates his signature ice blade and charges at the movie star. Johnny manages to catch the blade in his hands and shatter it. He hits Sub-Zero with his backflip-kick, knocking the revenant against the ceiling. As he lands, Sub-Zero blocks a follow up kick and throws a punch and a low sweep, both of which Cage avoids. As Sub-Zero blocks more kicks and punches from Cage, the scene cuts to Scorpion and Kenshi, still hanging on the chopper's side. Scorpion finally kicks Kenshi off him, but the swordsman manages to stab his weapon into the side of the helicopter. It glows as it cuts through the chopper's side, but finally sticks before Kenshi is hurled to his death.

Back in the chopper, Johnny blocks several punches from Sub-Zero before catching him with a right cross. As he staggers away, Johnny suddenly senses someone behind him. Sure enough, Scorpion is standing right there. He promptly elbows the ninja in the face, ducks another strike from Sub-Zero by doing the splits, and this time follows through by punching the revenant right between his legs.

~

All the men in the audience instinctually covered their junk at the sight of Johnny punching Sub-zero.

"Huh. I should try that." Yang muttered to herself. The men that had heard her immediately paled at her words.

~

"Bring it!" Cage yelled out.

As Sub-Zero recoils in pain, Johnny grabs his and Scorpion's heads and bashes them together. The former Lin Kuei stumbles back, and is bathed in a telekinetic glow. He is then violently hurled backwards through the chopper's back door, courtesy of Kenshi. Noticing Kenshi is also holding Scorpion still with his telekinesis, Johnny grabs the spectre and punches him out of the side door. Scorpion grabs onto the ladder with his kunai and starts climbing back into the helicopter. Johnny, having had enough at this point, readies himself as the ninja climbs back in.

"No!" Johnny yelled out.

Cage lunges at Scorpion and tackles him out of the helicopter, falling out himself in the process.

They free fall for a few moments, with Cage intending to smash Scorpion into the pavement. At the last second, the ninja spectre teleports away in a flash of hellfire, leaving Johnny to crash hard into the pavement. Despite Sonya's best efforts, the helicopter crashes into the ground a few moments later, carving out a large portion of the road. Sonya smacks her head and loses consciousness, but the chopper has not suffered enough damage to explode just yet.

Johnny picks himself up off the sidewalk. Miraculously, he hasn't broken any bones in the fall. He struggles to his feet and starts towards the chopper, but is stopped by Scorpion teleporting into his path. He jumps back into a fighting stance.

"The end is near." Scorpion stated.

"Getting a little ahead of yourself, aren't ya?" Johnny asked.

They fight. Even after the vicious melee in the helicopter, Johnny Cage demonstrates he isn't one of the major defenders of the Earthrealm by being a mere movie star. He takes the fight to the ninja spectre and leaves him unconscious on the ground.

"Gotta get back to the chopper." Johnny said as he started to run.

~

"I'm sorry but what in the hell was this? Where is the fight? That was like one of those montages in that terrible action movie Taiyang loves." Raven asked in total disbelief, earning a 'hey' from Tai.

"Oh yeah before you guys flashed here, Arcanus left a note saying most of the fight was gonna be skipped over." Nora explained.

The three newcomers stayed quiet before Robyn spoke up. "What a load of shit."

~

As Sonya starts to wake up, Johnny rushes over to the downed vehicle.

"Sonya! Get outta there--" Johnny said but was cut off.

He is suddenly struck in the back by a beam of ice and frozen. The beam doesn't completely freeze him, but he visibly struggles to move as the undead Sub-Zero walks up to him, again preparing his ice blade. Johnny spots a crowbar on the ground nearby and the freeze effect wears off just in time for him to avoid a finishing swipe from the former Lin Kuei. Johnny dodges another swipe and grabs the crowbar, using it to parry two more strikes before sweeping Sub-Zero's legs out from under him with the crowbar. He drops it and backs up to his feet, with Sub-Zero rising shortly after.

"Whoo! THAT was unpleasantly cold!" Johnny said as he got into a fighting stance.

They fight. While many would struggle fighting a foe so powerful as Sub-Zero, Johnny proves more than ready to take him down. After a fierce battle, Cage leaves the revenant down for the count.

"I liked it better when we fought on the same side." Johnny said in a sorrowful tone.

~

Ozpin sipped from his mug as his mind drifted to moments of when his allies became enemies after being manipulated by Her. He let out a sigh before continuing to watch.

~

Johnny finally makes it to the helicopter, where Kenshi is helping Sonya down from it. Johnny assists her.

"You okay?" He asked.

Sonya nods her consent.

"We fared better than the men." Kenshi stated.

"Add 'em to the list of things Shinnok'll answer for." Johnny said.

After a moment's silence, the three of them race off together.

The scene cuts to the courtyard of the Sky Temple. As a thunderstorm pours down, a massive army of Netherrealm demons - different to the flying beasts seen earlier - are completely massacring the monks who live there. Only two fighters remain standing - the gods known as Raiden and Fujin, who launch into battle stances.

The demon army charges at them. Raiden zaps several with his electricity blast, while Fujin traps several more in a cyclone and hurls them over the edge of a bottomless cliff. While he admires his handiwork, a demon charges and grapples him, biting into his face. Fujin fights back by punching and elbowing the demon in the face, before throwing him off the edge as well. Another demon lands behind him and gets a roundhouse kick in the face for its troubles. Fujin then looks to the heavens as he realises that several more Netherrealm demons - like the flying ones seen earlier - are descending on them.

~

"That's not good." Robyn said.

"You said it." Qrow said as he took a swig from his flask. He briefly looked at Robyn before he outstretched his arm, handing her the flask. Robyn was a bit surprised by this and briefly looked at him.

She then took the flask and took a swig. She made a face before relaxing a bit. Robyn gave back the flask to Qrow.

"Thanks." Robyn said.

"You're welcome." Qrow said

~

More demons land behind him, but Fujin is saved from one by Raiden impaling it through the head with his polearm. He and Fujin go back to back, fighting off the demons with their bladed staves. One demon manages to bite into Raiden's arm and eat an electric fist soon after. Raiden impales it on the edge of his weapon and is tackled across the courtyard by a flying demon. The creature stands upright and roars in victory... before being bisected from behind by Fujin and his poleaxe. Fujin helps Raiden back to his feet.

"Raiden! We must re-fortify the portal's defenses below!" Fujin shouted.

"No, Fujin. It is too late." Raiden replied.

The Netherrealm army is far from finished. Innumerable demons slowly walk towards the gods of thunder and wind. One in particular gets closer and roars to the skies - and a green flaming skull bursts through its chest. Fujin and Raiden avoid the projectile as the creature falls dead, showing the one who killed it. The army has now stopped it's advance, and given a respectable distance to the sorcerer who commands them. He proudly walks towards the two gods, revealing his distinctive pale facial features. This was the sorcerer Quan Chi.

"The mighty gods of Earthrealm." Quan Chi greeted them with a smug grin.

"You befoul these hallowed grounds, Quan Chi! Begone!" Raiden shouted.

"Surely you are pleased to see your friends…" Quan Chi said.

Quan Chi looks to his left. Before him stand the undead forms of Kurtis Stryker, Sindel and Kabal.

"You abandoned them to their deaths. I returned them to life." Quan Chi said.

"A life worse than death!" Raiden yelled.

"One you will soon share, and my lord himself shall witness your fall." Quan Chi said. The three revenants charge at the gods.

The scene cuts to a campfire on the edge of a forest. A few demons are stockpiling the corpses of the fallen monks here. Johnny, Sonya, Kenshi and two squads of Special Forces soldiers sneak up to the site, crouching behind cover. Johnny looks out to the scene, and his eyes widen in shock. He not only sees the undead Smoke in his ninja garb, but another revenant, this one with his cybernetic arms looking as corrupted as the rest of his features.

"So he's done his job?" The Revenant Jax asked.

~

"Woah! Jacqui's dad too?" Ruby exclaimed. Once again she was surprised to see the Revenants of the people Jaune was friends with.

"Oh man, how many people did Vomit Boy know were Revenants?" Yang asked.

"What if there's a world where we're Revenants and have to fight Jaune-Jaune?" Nora blurted out randomly. This caused her friends to look at her. They were going to say that was nonsense but stopped and thought about it for a moment. Arcanus said that the multiverse was infinite, and thus anything is possible. They all shuddered at the possibility.

~

"I expect him soon." Said Smoke.

"Jax…." Whispered Johnny.

Sonya also looks crestfallen at seeing her former commanding officer, but she looks over to Kenshi, who nods at her unspoken order. As they rise from cover, a portal opens behind them. More Netherrealm demons appear, and leading them is an undead native-american carrying two corrupted red tomahawks.

"Nightwolf!" Kenshi called out.

The former Earthrealm defender raises a tomahawk to the sky. As red lightning shoots into it, he roars in attack and charges the Special Forces with his demons in tow. Kenshi leads a squad into battle as Johnny's squad provides covering fire. The fighting is quickly noticed by the other two revenants.

"There!" Jax pointed out.

He runs into the battle. Sonya turns and charges toward him as well, engaging in close kombat. In the melee, Nightwolf and Kenshi parry each other's blades as Smoke teleports directly into the middle of the Special Forces. He kicks a soldier in the chest, sending him sprawling. He wrenches the rifle out of another soldier's hands, then punches and elbows him in the stomach, taking him down. He kicks the rifle out of another soldier's hands and punches him down.

Johnny springs into action with a flying kick. Smoke blocks this and several more roundhouse kicks from Cage, before connecting with a back kick that knocks the movie star to the ground.

"Smoke." Johnny said.

"Smoke is dead. I am Enenra." Enenra proclaimed.

~

"Well that's not creepy and ominous." Muttered Yang. Most of the audience that heard her agreed.

~

Elsewhere in the melee, Sonya ducks some swings from Jax's cybernetic arms, but gets kicked in the leg, dropping her to her knees. Jax then kicks her full in the face, knocking her over. Johnny gets the upper hand over Smoke by punching him twice in the face and laying him out with a crescent kick. The movie star looks over to see Jax advancing on Sonya.

"This is your last mission, Sonya." Jax said as he was about to kill Sonya.

Johnny intervenes just in time by tackling Jax to the ground. They both roll to their feet in fighting stances.

"The real Jax wouldn't punch his best friend!" Johnny exclaimed.

"Johnny Cage. Killing you will be a pleasure." Jax said as he got into a fighting stance.

They fight. Despite fighting a warrior augmented by both sorcery and cybernetics, Johnny Cage manages to dig deep and take the fight to the former Jackson Briggs. After a tough battle, Johnny eventually leaves Jax unconscious on the ground.

"We're gonna fix you someday." Johnny said.

~

Everyone in the audience nodded at his words. As they all know that Johnny succeeded in freeing Jax from his prison.

~

With Jax down, Johnny picks up an assault rifle and catches up with Sonya and the rest of the Special Forces, who are falling back into a cave.

"Well, nice seeing them again." Johnny joked in order to lighten the mood.

Sonya begins to say something, but only lets out an unhappy sigh. Johnny puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Sonya... that's not him." Johnny reassured her. Placing a hand on her shoulder.

After a moment, Sonya nods and regains her composure. The two of them run into the cave. While Sonya stops to confer with one of her men, Johnny races up to Kenshi, who is following his glowing sword Sento across a wall.

"'That the elevator?" Johnny asked.

"Yes. The elevator." Kenshi said in a deadpan tone.

~

Everyone simply let out a chuckle at this. Sometimes, witty banter can help take some stress off the situation.

~

He continues walking with the sword in front of him.

"Sento contains the souls of my ancestors. They will guide me." Kenshi explained.

Johnny looks back to the cave entrance as a rumbling sound is heard from outside.

"Could they hurry the hell up?" Johnny asked.

He runs back to the mouth of the cave. Some soldiers near the entrance are shooting at an unseen force of what can only be Netherrealm reinforcements. Kenshi eventually stops at part of the wall and chants something in Japanese. The wall lights up with kanji lettering in response. As Johnny turns around, he sees the hidden portal open up before him.

"Goin' up!" Johnny shouted.

"Fall back. Now!" Sonya said to the soldiers

As the soldiers race to the portal, Sonya stops for a moment with Johnny.

"Go on." He told her.

She runs into the portal. Cage addresses two soldiers who run up to him at the cave mouth.

"You guys stay here. Close the door." Johnny ordered.

One soldier takes out a block of explosives from his satchel and passes it to his comrade. As they rush back to the entrance, Johnny runs into the portal, teleporting into the unknown.

The scene cuts to an underground cavern beneath the Sky Temple. Raiden and Fujin are shooting electrical and wind blasts at the revenants pursuing them, but are gradually being forced backwards by them. Quan Chi strides just behind his undead puppets, letting off an evil laugh as he does so.

Though Raiden and Fujin successfully down the revenants, two cloudy shadows shaped like large hands begin to glide toward them. As the shadows encircle them both, Raiden realises what they are and jumps back with Fujin in the nick of time, as the shadows form into skeletal hands that clasp the air where they were standing just before. The gigantic hands unfold to present the fallen Elder God known as Shinnok.

"You see it now, Raiden... Your legacy. You poison their hearts with hope." Shinnok said.

~

Qrow leaned into Ozpin, Glynda, and Ironwood. "This guy is giving me heavy Salem vibes." He said. The other three nodded in agreement with him.

"Especially with what he said." Ozpin added.

~

"And what do you offer? The same as you did millenia ago, when you betrayed your fellow Elder Gods and attacked Earthrealm! We stopped you then, imprisoned you in the Netherrealm! We will do so again!" Raiden proclaimed.

"Remove the shadow from the light, the shadow grows. The legacy of life is death, Raiden. My followers accept this and live on. They fight for me." Shinnok said

As the shadow clouds come around Shinnok, the revenants and Quan Chi charge into battle. Kabal buries his hook swords into Raiden's shoulders and places a foot in his chest, trying to tear his arms clean off his body. Raiden grabs the weapons and charges them with lightning, electrocuting Kabal. He follows through with a crescent kick, causing Kabal to backflip from the force and crash hard on his front.

Quan Chi charges in, and Raiden avoids his kicks and punches, managing to strike him in the kidney, then the face, before kicking him in the stomach and punching him away. The sorcerer rallies and summons a snake-like skeleton with a human skull, which he shoots toward Raiden. The skull latches onto Raiden's face with it's teeth, then wraps its body around him. With the thunder god incapacitated, Quan Chi uppercuts him on the chin, sending Raiden to the floor.

Fujin knocks the former oni aside with a jump kick, then narrowly ducks a baton swipe from Stryker. He blocks another swipe, then lands a combination of punches that downs the revenant. Before he can close in, Sindel grabs him and unleashes a banshee scream point blank into his ear. The vibrations threaten to liquify Fujin's head, but in the nick of time Raiden grabs Sindel and electrocutes her head, rendering her unconscious.

As Raiden nods to Fujin, they both ready themselves for Shinnok's onslaught. The fallen Elder God now holds his amulet, which he uses to nonchalantly blast Raiden and Fujin, sending them crashing through the wall behind them.

As the stone entrance crumbles at their impact, Raiden and Fujin are both on the floor at Shinnok's mercy. Before them all is the Jinsei - a mysterious glowing blue energy that is Earthrealm's life force.

~

"It's so beautiful." Glynda muttered to herself. Unknown to her, the others agreed with her in silence.

~

"You'll not touch the Jinsei!" Fujin yelled.

"Oh, I will, and all of Earthrealm will learn the truth... of death!" Shinnok said.

He sends out another blast from his amulet. This one drags both the Earthrealm gods towards Shinnok. They are rendered helpless as the amulet seems poised to imprison them in it for eternity. But just before Raiden's hand touches the amulet, Shinnok is kicked in the back by Johnny Cage, sending the amulet from his grasp and breaking the spell. The amulet clatters to the ground a good distance away from Shinnok, who faceplants on the chamber floor. Johnny strides cockily into the chamber, Sonya and Kenshi by his side.

"Oh, sorry ma'am! Didn't see ya there!" Johnny mocked.

Shinnok brings himself up to his knees.

"Miserable wretch! Insignificant speck of feculent scum! How DARE you!" Shinnok ranted in anger.

~

Everyone let out snickers at Shinnok's anger.

~

He lets loose a magical blast that knocks Kenshi to the floor unconscious. Raiden spots the amulet as he and Fujin get to their feet, and he then locks eyes with Shinnok.

"That is mine!" Shinnok roared.

Raiden lets loose a lightning bolt, but Shinnok catches it in a magic blast and shoots out a corrupted red form of the bolt that strikes Fujin and knocks him out. Sonya fires off an entire clip of ammunition from her assault rifle at Shinnok, who effortlessly creates a shield that deflects the bullets. She throws the gun aside.

"Ready?" Sonya asked Johnny.

"As always." Johnny replied.

They both charge Shinnok and engage in hand to hand combat. Shinnok easily blocks and dodges their attacks, kicking them both in the stomach with the same leg in a motion impossible for a human. With them doubled over, he jumps up in a split kick that catches them both in the face. Sonya is knocked out of the fight, but Cage recovers quickly and charges in with more punches, all effortlessly blocked by Shinnok with one hand while he isn't even facing Johnny.

Shinnok goes on the attack and strikes Johnny with a roundhouse kick, but Cage weathers it and lashes out with a kick to the side that staggers Shinnok. As he recovers, Shinnok levitates Johnny into the air with his magic and hurls him across the chamber. Johnny hits hard against the wall and is knocked out of the fight too.

Sonya and Raiden both charge for the amulet, but Shinnok holds his hand out, charged with red energy. The amulet blasts the two of them as they come close, knocking them away. Shinnok then blasts Sonya with a red lightning bolt, leaving her writhing on the chamber floor. Johnny rises in time to witness this.

"She will be the first to join me." Shinnok said.

As he readies for a finishing blast with both hands, Johnny charges in, glowing green with his latent superpowers as he does so.

"No!" Johnny yelled.

In slow motion, Shinnok blasts out his magic as Sonya raises one hand in desperation. Johnny dives in front of the blast, fully absorbing it. He then, to the amazement of both Sonya and Shinnok, rolls to his knees and rises without impediment, still glowing with green energy.

~

Everyone looked at Johnny Cage in awe. This was the green halo that was mentioned earlier. It was like their aura, it was so similar yet so different.

"Wow." Ruby said with stars in her eyes.

~

"I'm not sure what just happened to me…." Johnny said.

The green glow fades as Johnny circles Shinnok, ready to fight.

"...but I am sure of this: You don't even THINK of hurting her!" Johnny finished.

They fight. Johnny gives the fight of his life against the fallen Elder God. Try as he may, Shinnok is unable to overcome him, and after a vicious brawl he is left on the ground by the movie star.

"You really are a fallen Elder God." Johnny mocked.

~

Everyone laughed at this.

~

Shinnok slowly rises to his feet, clearly weakened by Cage's assault. Nonetheless, he gets into a kombat stance as Johnny glows green once more, ready for battle. Raiden gets to one knee as this unfolds.

"Johnny Cage! The amulet!" The thunder god called out.

The amulet is by Johnny's feet. With Shinnok briefly unable to conjure up more magic, Johnny steps on it and flicks it backwards, right into Raiden's hand.

"No!" Shinnok yelled with wide eyes.

Johnny dodges aside as Raiden activates the amulet. The blast from it hits Shinnok just as he manages to fire off some magic from his hands. Despite his struggling, there is nothing Shinnok can do as he is slowly but surely dragged towards his amulet.

"NO!" Shinnok yelled.

With one final cry of anguish, Shinnok is sucked into his amulet. As Raiden pants in exhaustion, Johnny lowers his stance and allows himself a moment of triumph.

"Enjoy the new digs, Gramps." Johnny said.

Hearing Sonya stir, Johnny rushes to her side.

"Sonya?" Johnny asked.

"Johnny... did we...?" Sonya asked in an exhausted tone.

"Yeah. We got 'im." Johnny answered.

Sonya manages one last look of relief before falling unconscious in Johnny's arms. Raiden walks up to them, holding the amulet.

"Remain here. The chamber's properties will heal Sonya Blade in short order." Raiden said.

Kenshi and Fujin run up to Raiden.

"Quan Chi and the others; they're gone. A surge of power within the chamber overwhelmed my senses." Kenshi said.

"We can deal with Quan Chi later, Kenshi." Fujin said.

"We've netted a bigger prize this day." Raiden said as he held up Shinnok's amulet.

"Shinnok's Amulet…." Kenshi said. He holds his hand toward it, telekinetically feeling it's properties. "...and within it…"

"Ol' Fishface himself." Johnny finished for him.

"Let us take the amulet to the Elder Gods." Fujin said.

"They cannot destroy it. No one can." Raiden explained.

~

"Well that sucks." Qrow scoffed as he took a swig from his flask.

"For once we agree on something brother." Raven spoke up. Which shocked Qrow.

"Holy shit, sis. Forgot you were here." Qrow jumped. Raven rolled her eyes at her brother's antics and proceeded to watch the screen. So far, she was impressed with the fighters that appeared so far. They would be fine additions to her tribe though she does wonder what this has to do with the blonde knight. So far she hasn't. She wasn't sure that blonde was actually strong as her world's Jaune was weak.

~

"They might offer counsel. Shinnok can never escape." Fujin argued.

Raiden wordlessly offers his consent and the two gods leave the chamber. Kenshi is left with Johnny, who is still holding Sonya. He is smiling and at peace, unlike Kenshi, who is still clearly concerned with the events that just occurred.

"The war is not over. Quan Chi has escaped. Why are you smiling?" Kenshi asked.

"She called me "Johnny"." Johnny replied.

The scene fades into Johnny Cage, now with greyed hair. The caption "Twenty Years Later" reads on the bottom right of the screen. Johnny is talking in what appears to be a high tech communications room with four younger fighters; his daughter Cassie, Jax's daughter Jacqui, a Shaolin by the name of Kung Jin and Takahashi Takeda from the Shirai Ryu.

"Raiden told me later that I'm descended from some Mediterranean war cult." Johnny explained. He pauses to snort in derision. ""Bred as warriors for the gods." I've never been able to re-summon that green halo. Raiden thinks it was triggered when I saw a loved one about to die."

Kung Jin seems to view the tale with some skepticism. He looks over to Cassie, who has her back to him and is concentrating on the computer before her.

"How 'bout you, Cassie? Can you summon anything like that? Or did it skip a generation?" Jin asked in a mocking tone.

~

"So this is Kung Lao's cousin. Huh, definitely see the family resemblance." Tai let out a chuckle.

"Same." Nodded Qrow in agreement. He took another swig of his flask until it was empty. Once again the sound of the flask filling was heard. "Thank you, Arcanus."

Raven watched what happened and groaned as she palmed her face. 'Great. Just great.' She thought to herself.

~

"Take it easy, Jin." Takeda said.

"We didn't need a halo in Darfur - or Iran, or Kurdistan. Did we, Jacqui?" Cassie asked her best friend.

"Nope, we didn't. Shaolin monks ever send you there, Jin?" Jacqui shot back.

"I've seen plenty of action; Takeda and I both. Stuff that'll blow your Special Forces minds--" Jin said.

"Fu--" Cassie was about to curse.

Before Jin can continue, and before Cassie can interject with an expletive-laden reply, Johnny stands back up to defuse the situation, addressing everyone as he does so.

"At ease. You're all here because you deserve to be. You're beautiful and unique snowflakes." Johnny said.

Everyone sits in silent disbelief at what they just heard. With the tension gone, Johnny continues.

"Now, as I'm sure you're unaware - judging from the lack of gift cards - today is our team's six week anniversary. Secretary Blake says he's pleased with our progress." Johnny said.

"You could spit in his hair and he'd be "pleased with our progress"." Jin laughed.

"He was smart enough to have Mister Cage put this team together." Jacqui argued.

"I'm glad the Shirai Ryu chose me to join. New places…" Takeda said. He looks over to Jacqui. "...new faces."

Jacqui closes her eyes briefly and tries not to stare at Takeda, who sits where he is still smiling at her.

~

"Oh, is that a love story I see?" Kali said with a smile. Her ears twitching.

"Kali, please." Groaned Ghira. His wife always had the tendency to play matchmaker with other people's lives. Yes, the end result was usually good but that didn't mean the process was.

~

"As the secretary pointed out, us older folks are gonna retire someday, so it's time for your generation to step up. Shaolin, Shirai Ryu, S-F. Together. For your team's first mission, you're going to the Lin Kuei Temple." Johnny said.

Kung Jin and Takeda share a meaningful look.

"We haven't heard from the Grandmaster in a while, so we need to make sure he's still on our side; that he's got our backs if things flare up again with Outworld. You need to bring him in, but don't be surprised if Sub-Zero's not willing to cooperate." Johnny explained.

"Why be worried about Outworld? I thought Kotal Kahn respected the Reiko Accords?" Cassie asked

"He does, but he's facing a civil war. The rebels win, those accords will be history." Johnny said.

~

"That does sound bad." Commented Ironwood as Winter nodded her head in agreement. They were used to making deals and treaties with bandit clans in order for them to not attack villages. It was shady, yes, but it needed to be done.

~

Chapter two: Kotal Kahn.

The scene fades into the desert skyline of the capital city of Z'unkahran in Outworld. It pans down to the city buildings, and finally the streets, where a battalion of Kotal Kahn's warriors march through, along with the Outworld equivalent of oxen dragging a large carriage. Leading the march are the wandering mercenary Erron Black and the living amalgamation of souls known only as Ermac. The scene cuts to the inside of the carriage, and our first sight of Outworld's latest emperor; the Osh-Tekk warrior Kotal Kahn.

"Twenty million." Kotal said.

The camera cuts to who he is speaking with; the Earthrealm mercenary Kano, leader of the Black Dragon. Sitting beside him is D'Vorah, Kotal's lieutenant from Kytinn.

"Emperor, what's the expression? "S' not worth the dirt on my shoe"?" Kano said as he leaned backwards.

~

Everyone scowled at Kano. They all knew the man was no good. Even Raven herself had to admit it. 'This Kano reminds me of Shay if he grew a beard and lost an eye.' She thought in disgust. She genuinely hates men like this, especially when she is forced to work with them.

~

"Kotal Kahn has always bargained with you fairly, Kano." D'Vorah explained.

"Sure, sure. I'm just sayin'; upgraded weapons, my intel - and poof! The long Outworld civil war - done. Might be nice to kick back a bit, eh?" Kano said.

"You know Mileena's location." Kotal said in realization.

"And 'er whole rebel army. S'gotta be worth at least fifty." Kano said with his offer. Kotal briefly considered it before agreeing.

"I must attack her. Immediately. End this conflict. As you say…." Kotal said.

Kano looks over to the rooftops through the carriage windows. He spots the former empress Mileena running over them, accompanied by the Edenian demi-god Rain.

"...it drains us." Kotal continued.

Kano refocuses his attention on Kotal.

"Right. Do we have a deal?" Kano asked.

The driver of Kotal's cart suddenly calls a halt, bringing the carriage to a stop. D'Vorah immediately checks the window.

"What is it, D'Vorah?" Kotal asked.

"The emperor should not be concerned. Accident ahead. This One will clear it." D'Vorah said as she stepped out of the carriage.

As she exits the carriage, the scene cuts to the reason behind the halt. Two massive carts of stacked crates block the roadway. Kotal's soldiers move to heave them aside as D'Vorah walks up to them.

"Make way for Kotal Kahn! Move!" D'Vorah announced.

On the rooftops, Mileena and Rain spy on the proceedings, accompanied by the treacherous Edenian Tanya and several Tarkatans.

"The Tarkatans are in position. We await your order." Tanya said.

"It is given, dearest Tanya." Mileena said.

Tanya sneaks off with several Tarkatans in tow.

"Stopping a carriage is nothing. Killing an emperor--" Rain began to speak.

"FALSE emperor!" Mileena cut him off, angrily.

"--requires power. Power you have, Mileena. And won't use it." Rain finished.

Mileena begrudgingly pulls out what Rain is referring to - Shinnok's Amulet.

"It pains me to use it, Rain. I need more time. The usurper's excursion came too soon." Mileena explained.

"The rain falls when it may." Rain quotes.

"No matter - if Kano does what I paid him to do." Mileena said.

~

"Great, not only this Kano is a lying snake but this chick has Shinnok's Amulet." Qrow groaned.

"This will not end well." Ironwood said.

"Oh you think Jimmy?" Qrow remarked sarcastically. This got Winter to get out of her chair.

"Watch your tongue you worthless dru-" Winter was cut off by Ironwood with a raised hand.

"At ease Specialist Schnee." He said.

"But sir…" Winter whined.

"I said at ease." Ironwood said again.

Winter huffed in annoyance as she sat back down.

Qrow snickered for a bit before taking a swig of his flask.

Unbeknownst to them, Robyn was looking at them with discretion. 'Hehe. Those two remind me of myself and Jason when we first met.' She thought to herself with a smile. She then lost her smile as she began to remember a bad memory before shaking it off. "What's past is past." Robyn whispered to herself.

~

Back at the cart pile up, Ermac is telekinetically moving the crates, while Kotal's soldiers still struggle with the carts themselves.

"Now! Do it!" D'Vorah shouted.

More soldiers walk over to help. Inside the carriage, Kotal Kahn waits impatiently and silently with Kano, who seems to be staring him down to pass the time. A shout outside the carriage attracts Kotal's attention, and he turns to see an entire army of Tarkatan warriors madly rushing down a back alley directly at his forces. Outworld civilians scatter at the rush, but Kotal's forces rush in to intercept them. At the same time, more Tarkatans rush in from an alley on the opposite side of the carriage, forcing the soldiers to divide up to fight them off.

Seeing the army approach, D'Vorah, Ermac and Erron Black charge into the foray. Ermac ducks a blade swipe from Tarkatan, telekinetically lifts him into the air and viciously bends him backwards, snapping his spine, before blasting his corpse into another Tarkatan.

Erron Black shoots a charging Tarkatan in the face with his revolver, killing him instantly. He turns and blocks a swipe from another, before putting his gun directly into the mutant's mouth and pulling the trigger. As that one falls dead, Erron is tackled by a third, knocking his hat off in the process.

Two of Kotal's soldiers gang up to stab a Tarkatan to death, while another mutant slashes a soldier across the chest with his arm blades, killing him. A Tarkatan spots D'Vorah and charges her along with two more of his comrades. As they approach, D'Vorah extends two of her hidden appendages, brutally stabbing the mutants to death before they can get in range of her. She pauses to take a breath, and as she does she spots even more Tarkatans charging into the melee.

Inside the carriage, Kotal Kahn watches all of this with barely contained fury. He curses in untranslated Osh-Tekk.

~

"What did he say?" Ruby asked in confusion.

"I don't know sis." Replied Yang.

~

Kano cunningly strokes his beard.

"You said a mouthful…." Kano said.

He reaches behind him and pulls out one of his knives. He stabs downwards at Kotal, who blocks it with a forearm and punches Kano across the face. Kano tries another downward stab with both arms this time. Kotal catches his wrists and pushes them away.

Kotal pushes Kano down, grabs his cybernetic heart and lays in several measured punches, before delivering a headbutt that fractures Kano's skull (according to the X-Ray vision that pops up).

~

Everyone winced at this. The sound alone would be enough to make some of them flinch but to see it is another thing.

~

Kano rallies and grabs Kotal by the shoulders. They struggle for a moment and Kano throws Kotal down. He tries to fry the Outworld emperor with his laser eye, but Kotal blocks the beam with a forearm and grabs Kano with his other hand, plunging his thumb directly into the mercenary's eye. Kano screams in pain, but miraculously isn't blinded by the ordeal.

Kotal kicks him away, grabs him and throws him into the carriage side. Kano destroys one of the carriage window frames with his face. He tries to fight back with a double axe-handle smash, but Kotal blocks it, punches him in the stomach twice, then grabs him and throws him to the other side of the carriage. This time, both Kano and Kotal crash through the carriage door to the outside.

While on the ground, Kotal punches Kano repeatedly, but Kano catches his hand and throws Kotal aside. They both roll to their feet in fighting stances.

"You wound me, Kano. Your offer of aid was but wind and air?!" Kotal shouted. Feeling betrayed.

~

"Well, what do you expect from mercenaries!" Exclaimed Qrow. Everyone in the audience agreed with him, even a reluctant Winter and Raven.

~

"Keep yer fifty million. Mileena's giving me twice that to take you out!" Kano spat.

They fight. While Kano's fighting strength and cybernetic enhancements have only grown in the years he's lived, Kotal Kahn's life experiences far outshine his. The Outworld emperor lives up to his title by beating Kano into the ground.

"You're not worth the dirt on my shoe." Kotal said.

As Kano tries to struggle back to his feet, Kotal pulls out his ceremonial dagger. Pinning Kano to the ground with his boot, the Kahn plunges the spiked weapon square into Kano's back. He withdraws it and prepares to slit Kano's throat. Despite Kano trying to block the dagger, Kotal gradually overpowers him, but he is suddenly struck by a fireball that knocks him to the ground. The one who threw it - Tanya - leaps gracefully from the carriage she perched on and lands on the ground. The two circle each other in fighting stances.

"You are the Edenian, Tanya." Kotal said.

"I'm pleased you remember me, Ko'atal." Tanya said. She curtseys mockingly and throws a burst of fire. Kotal catches it in his palm and his arm begins to charge with energy.

"I will never forget those who freed Mileena." Kotal said.

He throws the burst back at Tanya, forcing her to cancel her spell. She pulls out a pair of kama (miniature scythes).

"She vowed to create a free Edenia - something you refuse to do." Tanya said. Kotal swings the dagger at her. She blocks it with both her kama.

"A united Outworld stands strong against its enemies." Kotal explained.

"It will never be united under your rule." Tanya said.

They break off their clinch.

"Your rebellion is all that prevents it." Kotal said.

~

"You know that Tanya chick reminds of that Emerald girl." Yang said.

"Cinder's teammate?" Asked Weiss.

"Yeah." Nodded Yang. Ruby and Blake looked at the unconscious form of Tanya as they now see the resemblance.

"Huh. If you dyed her hair green and changed her outfit, then yeah, I could see it." Blake said.

"Also their weapons are similar." Pointed out Ruby.

~

They fight. Tanya's speed and magical prowess prove to be little match for the strength and power of the Osh-Tekk warrior. After a swift and fierce battle, Kotal leaves Tanya on the floor unconscious and beaten.

"You are a fool to trust Mileena." Kotal said.

A Tarkatan warrior charges straight at Kotal following the battle. Kotal blocks a blade swipe, elbows the mutant in the stomach, sweeps his leg and knees him in the face, knocking him out. He grabs the arm of another Tarkatan charging at him, punches him in the side and face, then sweeps his legs with his arm, taking him down. As the Kahn searches the battle, he spots Mileena on the rooftops.

"She tasks me... for the last time." Kotal said.

His body glows with fire and he teleports to the roof where Mileena is.

He approaches her, Rain and the three Tarkatans with them with his shoulder ornaments (a pair of hooks) drawn for kombat.

"Mileena." Kotal sneered.

"Kano was to kill you, miserable snake!" Mileena yelled.

She barks out an untranslated order in the Tarkatan language. One of them charges and gets an arm sliced off for his efforts, followed by a slash through the heart. The second Tarkatan leaps into the fray with a kick, but Kotal grabs his foot and slices his leg off at the knee. As he drops, the final Tarkatan rushes toward him, only to take several slashes from the hooks, dying when one is embedded into his torso, and the other into the side of his head. Kotal snaps his neck with the last strike and leaves the hooks in his corpse, kicking it away.

Mileena charges at him, screaming. She throws a spin kick that Kotal blocks, followed by several more kicks that are blocked or dodged, before landing a punch across his face. The Kahn replies with two face-punches of his own and then lifts his hand to the sky, absorbing a ray of sunlight. With an untranslated chant, he blasts Mileena with this ray, sending her crashing through the rooftop wall and down to the street below. Kotal looks over to Rain.

"Another Edenian. The supposed half-god." Kotal said.

~

"Half-god?" Everyone asked themselves. Though the Arc family, team RWBY, and team (J)NPR couldn't help find the man familiar.

~

Rain replies by trapping Kotal in a water bubble, suspending him in the air. "I am a son of Argus. I was not merely declared a god by befuddled commoners, Buluc." Rain said.

~

"Oh. It's him." Jonathan said with venom in his voice. Angela, Saphron, Terra, RWBY, and NPR began to glare at the man. This was Rain, the man they saw hurt Jaune in one of the earlier viewings.

~

Kotal glows with sunlight once more and bursts the water bubble he is in.

"Surely Mileena suspects your true intentions, son of Argus." Kotal said.

He charges at Rain, who disappears in a flash of water. The Kahn stops short of l the rooftop edge, but is unaware that Rain teleported behind him. Rain leaps in the air and dropkicks Kotal in the back, sending him off the rooftop to the street below. He lands hard on his front. As he struggles to his feet, Rain teleports to the street to meet him in kombat.

"My "intentions" are to teach you the difference between pretension and godhood." Rain said.

They fight. In spite of being a half-god, Rain's arrogance gets the better of him in the fight with the determined Kotal Kahn, who's sun-based strength manages to see him through the melee. Eventually Rain is left beaten on the ground by Kotal's hand.

"That should silence you." Kotal said.

~

The Arc family felt glee at the man that hurt Jaune being beaten to a pulp.

~

As Rain struggles to his knees, Erron Black runs up to the Outworld emperor. Kotal gives a silent nod to Erron, which is returned. Black walks up to Rain.

"You won't touch him again." Erron Black said.

He kicks Rain square in the face, knocking him onto his back. As Rain tries to recover, Erron puts his boot on Rain's throat and levels his revolver square at Rain's nose. Before he can pull the trigger, a sai flies out of nowhere and impales Black's hand, forcing him to drop the revolver.

"But I will." Mileena interjected.

Mileena turns to face off against Kotal. Rain teleports away while Erron backs off as well.

"As the heir to my father Shao Kahn, I, Mileena, Kahnum of Outworld, order your execution!" Mileena exclaimed.

They fight. As vicious and desperate a fighter as Mileena is, not even her magic and skill is a match for the Osh-Tekk warrior known as Kotal Kahn. After a brutal fight, Mileena is knocked to the ground by the Kahn.

"There will be an execution this day." Kotal said.

The Tarkatan forces have now been routed, and several of Kotal's warriors surround Mileena, who manages to get to her feet. She tries to flee but cannot see a way out.

"You will atone for your dissent, Mileena. Your blood will make it right." Kotal said.

He begins to absorb more sunlight into his palm.

"Up the stair path... to the fire's edge!" Kotal began to chant.

As he shoots off a ray of sunlight, Mileena pulls out Shinnok's Amulet and fires it off. The two rays of magic collide in midair and struggle against one another until Kotal is forced to break his attack. The trapping magic is shot off in all directions, engulfing three of his soldiers who are instantly teleported into the amulet. The effect visibly scars Mileena's arm, and she cries out in pain as the magic halts, falling to the ground unconscious.

~

Everyone looked at the screen with wide eyes. They all know what the amulet is capable of but to see it turn several men to ashes. Oum, it was disturbing.

"She has no control over it." Ozpin said to himself as he sipped from his mug.

~

Rain suddenly teleports into the fray, grabs Mileena and disappears again with her in tow. Kotal remains on one knee, visibly struggling to get to his feet. D'Vorah helps him up, but he puts a hand to his head, still dizzy.

"What did my emperor see?" D'Vorah asked.

"A mere cub... grown to be a jaguar." Kotal said, cryptically.

He says nothing more, but looks to where Mileena was for a moment, before walking off.

~

"Well….that was cryptic." Qrow stated.

"Yeah." Tai agreed with his old teammate.

The others in the audience agreed with Qrow as well. Usually since cryptic words and sayings were omens for bad things to come.

~

The scene cuts to a shot of the Lin Kuei temple, viewed through a high tech computer monitor. Various statistics outline the screen.

"Once we hit the drop-point, we split up." Cassie explained.

The scene moves back into the S-F control room, with everyone seen earlier (Johnny, Cassie, Jacqui, Takeda and Kung Jin) still present.

"Jacqui and I will come in from the south. You two, from the west." Cassie continued.

"Rendezvous here. The north entrance." Jacqui said.

"Then what? A simple pick up and go?" Kung Jin asked.

"We bag 'im if he resists." Cassie said.

"Resistance might be more possible than you think." Takeda stated.

~

"Knowing assassins, yup." Qrow spoke as he took a swig from his flask.

"Must you keep drinking that trash little brother?" Raven asked, rather annoyed and disappointed that her brother was still a drunk.

~

"Don't sweat it. It comes to that, Sub-Zero won't know what hit him." Cassie said.

"I bet you can't say or do the same thing about your boyfriend. He's the grandmaster's right hand man after all." Jin said in a mocking tone.

~

The audience that were here from the beginning soon widened their eyes in realization at what Jin said. Yeah, Jaune was the personal student of Sub-zero. They had completely forgotten about that fact.

~

As soon as Jin said that Cassie wanted to argue back at him. But she didn't, Cassie hadn't thought about her boyfriend possibly turning against the Special Forces. Against her. Jacqui placed her hand on her best friend's shoulder. As a sign of comfort.

Chapter three: Sub-zero

The scene cuts to the Lin Kuei temple. Three members of the clan, outfitted in blue light armour complete with a sword on the back, rush up the gigantic staircase. The third member however, wore dark blue light armor that was a mixture of a knight and a ninja with his blonde hair running free - Revealing to all that this is Jaune arc - a mask adorning his face.

~

The girls with crushes on the blonde blushed madly as they saw Jaune again and in a new outfit.

~

Sitting on the throne of the Grandmaster is Kuai Liang - better known as Sub-Zero - now fully restored to life. His whitened eyes take in the three Lin Kuei, who put their hands together and bow their heads before him in respect.

"The forward defenses stand down as you command, Grandmaster. It is also confirmed. Four intruders." Spoke Jaune. The Grandmaster smiles in response.

"It is time to entertain our guests." Sub-Zero said.

The scene cuts to just outside of the Lin Kuei temple, panning down from the giant statue of the first Lin Kuei Grandmaster to the temple's entrance. In the midst of the light snow falling down, Team S-F have all reached the rendezvous point and wait to the side of the entrance staircase.

"All right, I've got point." Cassie whispers before turning to Takeda. "You and Jin, that side."

Both of them exchange a glance. Takeda's face is unreadable, but Kung Jin clearly doesn't agree with the command.

"Move!" Cassie said in a hushed tone.

Both of them obey and slip over to the other side of the staircase.

"Ready?" Cassie asked Jacqui.

Jacqui nods her consent, but just as Cassie turns to the entrance, the temple doors open up. She hastily backs up as Sub-Zero, Jaune, and four Lin Kuei students exit the temple, with Jaune walking close to Sub-zero, walking down to the grounds just before them. They stop before the statue of the First Grandmaster and kneel in meditation. Jin motions with his head to move in. Cassie mouths "Not yet" to him in response. After a moment, Jin chooses to ignore the command and stomps out of his hiding place.

"Dammit, Jin!" Cassie cursed.

~

"There always has to be that one guy." Qrow let out a groan as he leaned back into his seat. Tai, Raven, Winter, Glynda, Jonathan, and Ironwood nodded in agreement with him. There were times in their career where they had to deal with at least one idiot who thought they knew best. They were always the first to die and/or get others killed.

~

All three of them quickly follow as Jin points to Sub-Zero.

"You. I need to s--" Jin began to speak.

Cassie lightly hits him on the back, grabbing his attention. Sub-Zero speaks to them without ever lifting his head from his meditation.

"You are not welcome here. State your intentions." Sub-Zero said.

Jin decides to let Cassie do the talking, and she steps forward.

"Grandmaster. We need you to come with us. My name is Sergeant--." Cassie began to explain

Jaune, who was next to Sub-Zero, barked out a command to his fellow students in Chinese. Reinforcements flood in from seemingly nowhere, surrounding Team S-F and outnumbering them about 5 to 1. This had caused Cassie to look at Jaune with a hurt expression. Meanwhile, Sub-Zero stands up from his meditation.

"You demand my cooperation. Yet you are cut off. Surrounded. What will you do?" Sub-Zero asked as he put his hands behind his back. Jaune was standing next to him.

~

"Oh Jaune, what are you doing?! That's your girlfriend! You seriously can't choose him over her!" Exclaimed Saphron while holding Adrian.

~

"My father always spoke highly of you, Sub-Zero. He wants to talk." Cassie explained.

"Talking. Always his first choice." Sub-Zero said.

"Okay, let's try pummeling. Now!" Kung Jin yelled out.

"Wait!" Cassie yelled.

It's far too late to wait. Jin charges into a line of Lin Kuei as Sub-Zero rushes in and takes a swing at Cassie. Takeda and Jacqui begin fighting as well, with Jaune fighting Takeda with great skill. Cassie was about to run to Jaune and tried to get him to stop.

~

"So that was the fight Jaune and Scorpion were talking about." Muttered Ren as he finally was starting to get some context on what was mentioned earlier.

~

Hoping that he could convince Sub-Zero to stand down. However, she barely ducks out of the way in time and only just gets an arm up to block a left swing. Sub-Zero knees her in the side and blocks two kicks from her in response. He steps back from a wild right swing and headbutts Cassie, before throwing her to the ground. She comes up in a roll and pulls out her sidearm, but Sub-Zero freezes it with a quick ice ball, rendering it useless. Cassie goes into a fighting stance.

"Cassandra Cage. You lead this group, but they do not follow. What would your mother do?" Sub-Zero asked.

"Stop wasting time and take you down." Cassie answered.

~

"Good advice." Raven said to herself.

~

They fight. As youthful and determined a fighter as Cassie is, Sub-Zero is leagues ahead of her with his strength, experience and powers. After a fierce battle, he leaves her defeated on the ground.

"You are more like your mother than you think." Sub-Zero said.

Takeda charges at Sub-Zero from behind and launches into a spin kick (with multiple spins). Sub-Zero blocks the attack and throws several punches that Takeda blocks, but he eventually lands one. Takeda fights back with several more kicks, all blocked. On the final kick, Sub-Zero covers himself with ice as Takeda lands on him with a spinning downwards kick, seemingly shattering him into ice shards.

After Takeda spends a moment looking around, Sub-Zero resurfaces behind him and dropkicks him in the back. The Lin Kuei Grandmaster skips up to his feet as Takeda struggles to get up on his own feet.

"Your powers should have revealed my intention, Takahashi Takeda. No doubt Kenshi taught you how to use them." Sub-Zero said.

"My father taught me a lot, Grandmaster." Takeda said.

"Let us see." Sub-Zero said.

They fight. Even with his agility and lasher whips, the Shirai Ryu ninja proves to be little match for the Lin Kuei Grandmaster. It's not long before Takeda is facedown on the ground, defeated.

"You are not your father. Not yet." Sub-Zero said.

From behind, Jacqui attempts to punch Sub-Zero in the back of his head, but he anticipates her attack and sweeps her legs with his arm. Jacqui turns her fall into a cartwheel and lands on her feet.

"Dammit." Jacqui cursed under her breath.

"You announced your arrival, Jacqueline Briggs." Sub-Zero said.

"Specialist Briggs." Jacqui corrected him.

"Yes. Military decorum is important to your family." Sub-Zero nodded.

~

Winter was surprised and glad to hear it. It was usually a nice change to see other specialists work.

~

Jacqui takes several swings at Sub-Zero, one of them managing to hit him on his side. She lands another in his stomach and a superman punch to his face, staggering him a few steps backwards.

"If you know my father, you know me. Thought you and he were friends." Jacqui said as she got into a fighting stance.

"Our histories share a dark chapter." Sub-Zero replied.

They fight. Despite her only augmentation being her powered gauntlets, Jacqui proves to be a tough fighter. However, Sub-Zero's experience, strength and ice powers see him through the fight and he knocks Jacqui to the ground.

"Do not judge yourself harshly, Specialist Briggs." Sub-Zero said.

Jacqui suddenly whirls to her feet and lands a spin kick across Sub-Zero's face. She lands a right hand and then a roundhouse kick, taking the Grandmaster to one knee, stunned. Jaune saw this and quickly charged her with his sword, forcing her to block his attacks and disengage from the fight.

~

"Huh guess Vomit Boy grew protective of his master over the years." Yang spoke.

"Of course it's expected for one to protect their leader. Even if it comes with the costs of your life." Raven stated, causing her daughter to glare at her but she ignored it. The bandit leader now gets to see the Arc in action. So far, she was impressed, this version of the blonde is extremely skilled. 'Though I do find him holding back disappointing.' She thought to herself. Raven soon began to think what would her world's Arc turn out if he was this skilled. She smiled at the possibilities. 'Perhaps when we return or when I see that boy again I should persuade him to join me. After all it shouldn't be that hard, he's a growing teenager with hormones after all. I bet he doesn't mind learning from an… experienced older woman.'

Suddenly, Ruby, Blake, and Pyrrha felt dread building up. Tai, Qrow, and Yang felt like something really bad and awkward was going to happen. Saphron felt like she should stop her parents from going crazy. Terra did the same. Adrian simply wondered when he was gonna see his uncle Jaune again. Glynda, Ozpin, Winter, and Ironwood felt a headache coming on. Ghira and Kali felt something was off. Jonathan suddenly felt the urge to choke a bitch. Angela got the sudden thought of where to hide a dead body. Meanwhile on the side of the temple, Jaune felt like his life just got a bit more complicated and the young girl he was training with felt like she was gonna skin someone alive sometime soon.

~

Elsewhere on the temple grounds, Kung Jin throws a Lin Kuei to the ground, blocks a sword strike from another, grabs his arms and judo throws him down too.

Seeing Sub-Zero on one knee, Jin charges in with a straight kick, but Sub-Zero suddenly stands up and blocks it with a follow up kick. The Grandmaster ducks under one of Jin's jump spinning kicks and charges in with several punches. Jin blocks most, but one in the chest and another in the face tag him. He staggers back from the onslaught and magically readies his bow-staff.

"A feint. Bravo." Jin said.

"Kung Jin. You should rally your companions rather than mock your superiors." Sub-Zero said.

"I'll remember that - in case I ever meet one." Jin said.

They fight. Jin's arrogance proves to be his undoing, for in spite of his skill in battle, Sub-Zero's endurance is far too strong and his powers are far greater. In short order, Jin is lying on his back in the snow.

"False bravado does not suit you." Sub-Zero said.

By now, the Lin Kuei have successfully subdued Cassie, Jacqui and Takeda, and have them on their knees with their hands tied behind them. Kung Jin is soon bound and put with them in the same manner. Sub-Zero walks over to Team S-F.

~

"Welp. They're screwed." Tai said bluntly.

"Come on dad. I'm sure Jaune's not gonna let anything happen to them." Ruby said in defense of her crush. 'Though I do hope that that hussy gets hurt… wait where did that come from?' She thought to herself.

Taiyang simply looked doubtful but kept his expectations low.

~

"Any ideas?" Takeda asked as he looked at his team.

"Sub Zero, let's talk." Cassie said to Sub-Zero.

"That opportunity has passed." Sub-Zero said.

"Got a new plan, Cage?" Jin asked in a deadpanned tone.

"You could'a followed the old one, Jin." Scolded Jacqui.

"You're gonna catch hell if you kill us." Cassie told the cryomancer.

Sub-Zero considers this for a moment.

"...Yes. I suppose so." Sub-Zero said. He gazed at Jaune, who was standing behind Cassie.

He calls out to Jaune in Chinese. The blonde assassin then cuts the ropes that bind Team S-F, and the Lin Kuei walks back into the temple, minus Jaune. The blonde instead stands next to his master. He took off his mask and looked at them with a smile. He especially looked at Cassie. Which confused her.

~

Qrow began to laugh, as did Ozpin and James. Even Glynda let out a quiet chuckle. Winter let out a groan of displeasure as she realized what this was. The others simply looked confused.

~

"That worked?" She asked in confusion.

A whistle catches Team S-F's attention as they rise to their feet. Standing on the staircase to the temple is Johnny Cage, who salutes them with a pointed finger.

"This was all a... a--." Jacqui stuttered.

"A training exercise." Sub-Zero answered.

"Damn. I shoulda seen it." Cassie cursed.

"You and your friends show much promise, Cassandra Cage. But until you function as one, you will fall short." Sub-Zero explained.

They all made their way out of the temple. However, Cassie was then pulled back. She turned to see what was pulling her but was suddenly surprised. Her lips were smashed together with Jaune's. She wanted to pull away and punch her boyfriend but she didn't. Instead, she closed her eyes and brought Jaune in closer. The two deepened the kiss until they broke it in order to breathe.

~

Ruby, Blake, and Pyrrha had their jaws drop at the sight before them. In front of them was their man kissing some hussy. They all soon began to grit their teeth and furrowed their brows. An aura of murderous rage emitted from their bodies.

Everyone else simply looked at the girl with worry and wisely scooted away from them for the time being.

"Should ah… should we do something?" Asked Nora.

"No. This is something I'm sure Jaune can handle." Ren said, unknowingly to him, that said blonde felt like he was betrayed.

~

"I'm sorry about that. I'll buy dinner to make it up." Jaune whispered.

"Tony's. Full meals with appetizers and dessert." Cassie demanded as she began to walk away.

"Deal." Jaune said with a smile. After they left, Sub-Zero approached his student.

"I can see why you court her. Cassandra Cage is quite skilled." Sub-Zero said.

"Yeah. But that's not the only thing that made me fall in love with her." Jaune said with an ecstatic smile.

~

The glare and rage of the three girls suddenly became more intense. Causing everyone else to scoot away from them even more.

~

Back on their plane and in their command centre, Team S-F begin dressing their outfits and pride. Cassie walks in, making sure to shoulder bump Jin as she passes. Johnny follows behind her.

"So other than that you enjoyed your visit?" Johnny asked.

"The Lin Kuei shredded us." Cassie said.

"You, maybe." Mocked Kung Jin.

"I see plenty of frozen boot prints on your ass, too." Jacqui shot back.

"C'mon now, you're all winners in my book." Johnny said, as a way to cheer them up. This does nothing to encourage Team S-F, who continue to look downcast. Johnny's phone begins to vibrate in his back pocket and he takes it out. He takes one look at the screen and becomes deadly serious.

"New orders. From General Blade." Johnny stated.

He walks over to the computer and types something in. He reads the screen for more info.

"Priority One: Outworlders. Here in Earthrealm…." Johnny read in confusion.

"An invasion?" Takeda asked.

"Couldn't be." Jacqui said.

She notices Johnny is silent. So does Jin.

"You're not afraid are you, Mister Cage?" Jin asked.

"Outworlders, I can handle…." Johnny asked.

The scene cuts to Team S-F's plane touching down at a refugee camp policed by the Special Forces. The blind swordsman Kenshi - aged and graying as well - walks over to the plane. The scene cuts to a few minutes later, after Johnny and Team S-F have disembarked from the plane.

"So when did they show up?" Johnny asked Kenshi.

"The portal opened by the docks a few hours ago. Nearly five thousand in all. Refugees from the Outworld civil war." Kenshi explained.

~

"It must be bad if they risked coming to Earthrealm." Qrow said.

~

"It must be bad if they risked coming to Earthrealm." Johnny said as he made his way to the tent.

~

Everyone let out a laugh at the words being repeated on the screen. Qrow simply shrugged it off.

~

"After you." Kenshi said as he turned to Kung Jin.

As Jin, Cassie, Jacqui and Johnny all walk into one of the command tents, Kenshi stops Takeda and puts a hand on his shoulder.

"Do not dwell on your encounter with the Lin Kuei, son." Kenshi spoke telepathically. Takeda sighs out loud.

"Kinda hard not to." Takeda responded back telepathically.

They both walk into the command tent. Amidst all of the Special Forces soldiers at various monitors, Raiden stands over a beautiful young woman, who despite looking vaguely Asian is no doubt from Outworld. She is sitting and nursing a hot drink as Kenshi and Takeda walk over. General Sonya Blade - looking startlingly young for almost fifty - turns when she sees them approaching.

~

"Damn. I wish to look that good when I'm 50." Blurted out Yang, with every other woman in the audience agreeing. Though Saphron let out a quiet laugh at what Yang said. She could only imagine how they would react if they found out that Arc starts to age at a much slower rate when they turn 40. She turned to her dad, who was 39 (Side note: Yeah Arc genetics helped with them having a lot of kids), and he looked at her. Both of them think of Saphron's Grandmother, Alessandra Arc, with Jonathan's father marrying into the family. The woman was pushing 60 while looking like a woman in her mid to late 30s.

~

"Thanks, Kenshi. Could you and Mister Cage join us?" Sonya asked.

She perches on the side of a nearby table near the woman. Cassie begins to walk over as well, and Sonya addresses her while barely looking in her direction.

"Sergeant Cage, you and your team as you were." Sonya said coldly.

She turns away. Cassie is clearly annoyed by this, and shares a glance with her father. At his silent request, she does as she's told.

"This is Li Mei. She seeks asylum for her people in Earthrealm." Raiden introduced.

"Our village, Sun Do, was the epicentre of a fierce battle. We barely escaped with our lives." Li Mei began to explain.

"Such is war." Johnny said.

A moment of silence passes. Everyone is giving him looks.

"I mean, no offense, but... you Outworlders kinda live for that, right?" Johnny asked.

"This was different. The rebels, Mileena, had a weapon unlike anything... Entire battalions, erased. It was not honourable. Not kombat." Li Mei said.

"Tell me more about the weapon." Raiden said.

"A talisman. Gold, with a centre jewel. Mileena wields it's crimson energy without precision." Li Mei explained.

"Well, that's good then--." Cassie began to speak but was cut off.

"Not now, Sergeant Cage." Sonya said.

Cassie looks downcast as Li Mei continues.

"It is enough that she possesses it. It turns the tide in her favor. The emperor grows desperate. And those caught in the middle... pay the price." Li Mei said.

"If this talisman is what I suspect it to be, we may all pay a price." Raiden said.

"Are we talking about Shinnok's Amulet?" Jin asked as everyone in the room grew worried.

~

"Yup." Said everyone.

~

Sonya turned to Raiden.

"Can't be. The base, the vault, your wardings? S-F, Shaolin, no way anyone can get past all that." Sonya said.

"I must be certain." Raiden said as he turned to leave.

He leaves the tent. Johnny breaks the silence.

"Well, this is cozy." Johnny said in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Sonya says nothing, but glares at him with an annoyed expression. Li Mei notices the tension between them and tries to cool it off.

"You remind me of an Earthrealmer who crossed over with us. He also found humour in everything." Li Mei said to Johnny.

"Handsome guy, right?" Joked Johnny.

The joke is seemingly lost on Li Mei.

"He was an Earthrealmer. One of his eyes... glowed red." Li Mei explained.

At this, Johnny and Sonya realise exactly who she means.

~

"Kano." Winter muttered.

~

"Who does she mean?" Jin asked Jacqui.

Jacqui shrugs in response.

"Kenshi, continue with Li Mei. I'm going to the refugee camp. Gotta get to him before he finds a way out." Sonya ordered.

She starts walking outside. Johnny falls in with her.

"I'll come with you." Johnny said.

Sonya stops at once and addresses Johnny directly.

"Go get an update on camp security from Colonel Flagg." Sonya ordered him

"Why?" Johnny asked in confusion.

"Because then you won't be here." Sonya said with a frown. This also gets Johnny to frown.

~

Qrow, Tai, Ironwood, Glynda, Ozpin, Jonathan, Angela, and even Raven let out a laugh as they were reminded of Mr and Mrs. Stein. Or should they say, Mr. Stein and Ms. Shelly, the former husband and wife duo that taught combat class together until their divorce in their third year. Yeah it was super awkward.

~

Cassie looks more outraged than her father does and starts forward. Johnny motions for her to stand down and then leaves the tent without another word. Sonya watches him as he leaves, and doesn't look away until Cassie addresses her.

"Are we with you?" Cassie asked.

"No. I need to confirm with Kotal Kahn that Li Mei's story is true. You and your team are going to Outworld." Sonya ordered. She turns around and leaves the tent without another word.

Chapter four: Kung Jin.

The scene cuts to Outworld's capital, Z'unkahran. Team S-F are walking through the crowded streets of Outworlders going about their normal business.

"I dunno, I expected the sky to be purple or something." Jacqui said.

"Don't believe everything you see online." Jin said.

"And what makes you an expert?" Cassie asked skeptically.

"The Shaolin archives. I studied a lot about Outworld." Jin explained.

"No substitute for experience." Cassie said.

~

"Hehe, I like her." Robyn and Qrow said at the same time which got them to stare at each other for a few minutes before turning away.

~

"So what makes you our leader?" Jin asked.

The two of them stop walking and stare one another down. Takeda intercedes before anything else happens.

"Guys, let's stick to the mission?" Takeda suggested. Cassie breaks off the staredown and walks off. Jin smiles to himself and follows along with Takeda and Jacqui.

"Li Mei has to be telling the truth." Cassie said.

"An invasion would violate the Reiko Accords." Jacqui said.

"'Cause you can always trust an Outworlder…." Jin mocked.

"But if Outworld's our ally, why didn't they help us during the Netherrealm war? Against Quan Chi and his team of…." Takeda cut himself off as he looks at Jacqui

"Revenants? Like Jacqui's dad?" Jin finished for Takeda.

Jacqui stops dead at this remark.

"Asshole!" Jacqui sneered.

Jin turns around, addressing everyone as he does so.

"It's not an alliance. Non-aggression pact. Outworld is not our ally." Jin explained.

A new voice cuts through the air, and Team S-F find themselves surrounded by several of Kotal Kahn's soldiers. The one speaking stands out the most in his gunslinger attire.

"A point you might make with more subtlety, given your surroundings. Now state your business. Including a reason why we shouldn't kill you." Erron Black said.

Takeda puts his hand to his head, telepathically reading Erron Black's mind.

"I can read you. You're not from Outworld." Takeda pointed out.

"I'm from Earthrealm - like you - but my employer, Kotal Kahn is from Outworld. So now I'm from Outworld. State your business." Erron Black said.

"We're emissaries. We need to talk to Kotal Kahn." Cassie explained. She pulls something out of her back pocket.

"Here, we have Raiden's official seal." Cassie said as she showed him the seal.

Black looks at it for a moment.

"I can buy one of those at that stall right over there." Erron said as he gestured to the stall next to them.

"Look, you can arrest us, even kill us, but if we're telling the truth, you probably get a pay cut - or worse. You take us to the Kahn, I'll tell 'im you took us down. Maybe get you a bonus. You can't lose." Jin offered. Erron considers this new offer for a moment longer than he did Cassie's.

"Follow me." Erron replied.

~

"Well this can only end well." Laughed Robyn as she leaned back into her seat. Qrow nodded in agreement with her.

~

He walks off. Team S-F followed with the soldiers close by. Jin flashes another smile at Cassie. They walk into the main plaza of the marketplace, where a crowd has gathered to watch a public event. A soldier on a raised platform addresses all present, reading from a scroll.

""In these times of war, we are required to view every resource as a weapon for our Emperor to use at his discretion."" The soldier read out loud.

The scene cuts to a closer view. A man has been bound in the stocks, and two soldiers pull him out and restrain him.

""To take without his leave is to steal from the hand of Kotal Kahn himself."" The soldier continued.

Kung Jin stops to take in the scene, with mounting horror clear on his face.

""Therefore, having been found guilty of theft, you shall be put to death."" The soldier finished reading.

~

"Woah hold on, Death for petty theft?!" Yang exclaimed.

"Yeah that's not fair!" Yelled Ruby.

"Hate to say Firecracker, but that's how most parts of the world work sometimes." Grumbled Qrow as he took a swig from his flask. There were too many times where he, Raven, Summer, and Tai had to watch a public execution and be powerless to do anything. Yet another of the many downsides of being a huntsman.

~

"I was hungry!" The thief pleaded.

He is slammed onto a headsman's block.

"Your sentence will be carried out… immediately!" The soldier shouted.

Jin turns to Erron.

"Death? For petty theft?" Jin asked in shock.

~

"See, he agrees with us!" Pointed out Yang.

~

"Remember where you are." Erron reminded him. Defiantly, Jin pushes his way through the crowd.

"Jin?" Cassie asked in confusion.

Erron pulls out a revolver, intending to shoot Kung Jin in the back. Cassie grabs his arm and throws him down, causing the shot to go wide. Takeda and Jacqui begin fighting the soldiers as well. On the platform, a soldier holds a macuahuitl - an Aztec (or in this universe, Osh-Tekk) spiked war club - over the thief's head. As he prepares to swing it downward, an arrow pierces his shoulder, sending him down in pain. Jin puts down his bow-staff and charges in.

Three soldiers pull their swords and meet him in kombat. Kung Jin easily blocks the first's attacks with his staff and hits him in the side of his helmet. Jin hits another strike to his stomach and knocks him down with a bash to the back of his head. He blocks two strikes from the second soldier and sends him sprawling with a staff hit to the face, then repeats the motion to the third soldier before he can even finish his attack. Behind him, other Outworld citizens begin attacking the soldiers as well.

Elsewhere, Erron blocks a high kick and a punch from Cassie, and she blocks two of his attempts to shoot her and ducks a pistol whip. He counters another strike from her by bashing her in the forehead with his revolver and dashes off from the fight while she's stunned.

The soldiers now have a full scale riot on their hands. One is tackled off the platform by an Outworld citizen, while a second is pushed off by another citizen, allowing Jin to run up and free the thief from his binds.

"Get outta here! Go!" Jin yelled.

The citizen helps the grateful thief to his feet. Jin turns around and walks off the platform, coming face to face with Erron Black.

"I knew I shouldn't have listened to you." Erron said.

"A lesson in trust... from a mercenary." Jin said.

~

"Well, mercenaries do have more honor than thieves." Robyn stated. This caused everyone to look at her funny but Jonathan and Angela knew what she meant. As someone they knew very well was one.

~

"Here's another learning opportunity." Erron said.

They fight. As deadly and pragmatic a fighter as Erron Black is, Kung Jin exhibits equal skill and speed with his own weapons. After a hard fought battle, the Shaolin student leaves the mercenary flat on his back.

"I'm a quick learner." Jin said.

The soldiers surrounding the rest of Team S-F are quickly defeated. A loud deep roar attracts Jacqui's attention, and several thumping footsteps catch the attention of everyone else as well. They look up in horror at what is approaching, but Jin steals himself as he hears a young girl calling out threats in the Outworld tongue.

The gigantic hooded brute Torr walks into the plaza, and on his back is his rider, the diminutive Ferra. She gives off an evil cackle as they take in the scene.

"Let's play, Torr!" Ferra shouted.

~

"What is that little girl doing on top of that brute?!" Exclaimed Glynda.

"Honestly it's the little girl you should be worried about." Qrow said.

~

Torr roars in response and starts forward. Team S-F gets into fighting stances.

"You couldn't just ask for a pony like every other girl?" Cassie asked sarcastically.

Kung Jin knocks an arrow into his bow-staff.

"The archives never mentioned symbiotes." Jin said.

At Ferra's battle cry, Torr charges forward. Cassie, Jacqui and Takeda run to meet them, while Jin aims his bow-staff. Jacqui ducks a right swing from Torr and tries to punch him, but Torr easily blocks her attempts. As Torr grabs Jackie and hoists her over his head, Jin fires off an arrow that hits him in the shoulder, causing him to drop Jacqui before he can slam her into the ground.

Torr pulls the arrow out and charges forward, but Takeda runs into his path. He blocks a fist from Torr, who blocked his attacks and grabs his leg, throwing him to the ground while Jin prepares another shot. The brute bashes Takeda with both his fists while he's down, but Jin hits him with another arrow in the shoulder before he can repeat the motion.

Once more Torr pulls the arrow out and charges forward. Cassie tries to hit him with a Shadow kick, but Torr catches her leg.

~

"Huh, guess she doesn't have it." Said Blake in an emotionless tone. Even more than usual. This caused her parents to look at her with raised eyebrows and concern.

"She may not have it now Ms. Belladonna but it takes time to unlock one's abilities. I'm sure most of us had to go through something similar to unlock our aura and/or semblance." Ozpin lectured. Causing some to nod in agreement with the man.

~

"Break her face!" Ferra shouted.

Torr complies by punching Cassie square in her face with his free fist. He picks her up by the shoulders and hoists her over his head, eye level with Ferra, who brandishes the claws on her hands.

"Ferra cut you!" Ferra yelled.

This time, Jin shoots his arrow at Ferra, catching her in the shoulder and knocking her off Torr's back. Torr throws down Cassie and runs in to meet Kung Jin in kombat. Ferra quickly rights herself and jumps right back on Torr's back.

"You here make trouble, Skinny?" Ferra sneered. She barks off a growl. "Trouble make you!" Ferra yelled. Torr roars in compliance.

They fight. Ferra/Torr prove to be unlike any opponent Kung Jin has ever faced, with the hulking giant and depraved dwarf fighting in tandem with amazing effect. Nonetheless, Jin's speed, training and endurance all pay off in the end and after a long hard brawl he leaves Torr defeated on the ground, on top of Ferra.

"Love to learn more about ya. Too bad you're insane." Jin remarked.

As Ferra struggles to pull herself out from under Torr's unconscious body, Jin rushes over to the rest of Team S-F, who are picking themselves back up.

"You guys all right?" Jin asked.

They say nothing in response, but a cry across the plaza grabs their attention. More soldiers - far more than they can take on - dash towards them. Once they are surrounded, the Kytinn D'Vorah strolls up to Team S-F.

"The Earthrealmers, yes? This One must learn more of your diplomatic techniques." D'Vorah said.

"We're here to see Kotal Kahn. General Blade's--." Cassie began to explain but was cut off.

"You interfere with Outworld matters. The penalty is death." D'Vorah said.

~

"I'm sensing a theme here." Weiss said as her friends and sister nodded in agreement.

~

"I'm sensing a theme." Cassie said to her team.

"But as we honour the Reiko accords, we will consult the emperor. You will await him here." D'Vorah said begrudgingly.

She walks off, leaving Team S-F surrounded by the soldiers. Cassie turns to Jin.

"You wanna take this opportunity to tell us what the fuckshit you were thinking?!" Cassie asked angrily.

"I gotta wonder why you'd risk interrealm war for a bread thief." Takeda said.

"Because not all thieves are irredeemable." Jin explained.

~

"I'm guessing he had experience." Tai said.

"It wouldn't be impossible." Ozpin added.

~

The scene fades into an enclosed shrine. The words "Five Years Ago'' appear at the bottom of the screen. The doors to the shrine are opened by Kung Jin, wearing the shrouded clothes of a thief. He looks around the shrine, which has paintings of many of Earthrealm's greatest heroes framed on the walls. Jin stops at two of the paintings - of the Shaolin's finest, Kung Lao and Liu Kang.

Jin looks regretful at what he is going to do, but nonetheless steals himself and picks up a jade statue on a table below the paintings, small enough to hold in one hand. After pausing another moment to contemplate his actions, he grips the statue tightly and flees the shrine.

~

"At least he feels regret." Qrow said.

"Regret is a weakness." Raven stated. This caused Qrow to glare at her. 'Some things never change.' He thought.

~

An exterior shot reveals that Jin is fleeing from the Sky Temple. He makes it to the outside courtyard and pauses to admire the statue. As he walks away, he fails to spot Raiden standing behind him.

"It has more sentimental value than monetary value." Raiden spoke.

Jin stops dead at his words.

"Nevertheless, I would prefer you did not steal it." He continued.

"It's a family heirloom. One that shouldn't have been given to you!" Jin argued.

The statue disappears from Jin's hand in a flash of lightning, and reappears in Raiden's.

"Your family honoured me with this memento of your cousin Lao. After his death." Raiden said.

"A death you caused! You made him fight Shao Kahn, then stood there while that bastard snapped his neck!" Jin shouted.

"You go too far, Kung Jin." Raiden said with narrow eyes.

~

"This won't end well." Tai said.

~

"No... Not far enough." Jin said.

They fight. Kung Jin soon realises he is outmatched, as the Thunder God takes little damage from his onslaught. Even when he manages to knock Raiden to the ground, he knows fighting him is in vain.

"Just let me go." Jin said.

Jin walks away, despondent, only to find Raiden teleport directly into his path, completely uninjured from the brief fight.

"Blood of Kung Lao, descendant of the Great Kung Lao... a common thief. Did you think you could walk unimpeded into my temple and walk out again... without my complicity?" Raiden said.

"You wanted me to attack you. Why?" Jin asked in confusion.

"To release your anger. Make you amenable to reason." Raiden said.

Jin hangs his head, unable to meet Raiden's eyes.

"And make me feel like shit." Jin said

"Self-loathing has always been an unfortunate part of your makeup. There lies ahead a brighter path. One that will truly honor your ancestors." Raiden explained. He puts a hand on Jin's shoulder. "One that is worthy of you. Go to the Wu Shi Academy. Join the Shaolin, like Kung Lao before you."

Raiden takes his hand from Jin's shoulder. Jin turns away from him, still downcast.

"I can't. They won't... accept--." Jin said.

"They care only about what is in your heart. Not whom your heart desires." Raiden said.

~

This caused everyone to look at each other in slight shock. As they as realize that Kung Jin might be Gay. Not that there's nothing wrong with that as they have married lesbian couple with them right now. That and the world they live in means that most places don't follow such narrow minded mindsets. That and, again, added the fact that Jin didn't look like it, but you know what they say about assuming.

~

"It's too late for me." Jin said.

Raiden holds out the statue for Jin. He takes it.

"It is never too late, Kung Jin." Raiden said.

Jin finally looks into his eyes, and lights up with determination.

Back in Outworld, Kotal Kahn has his back to Cassie Cage in contemplation. D'Vorah, Erron Black, Ferra/Torr and Kotal's soldiers still have Team S-F surrounded. He turns back round and walks toward Cassie.

"Your news of refugees is troubling. Their exodus to Earthrealm was not known to me." Kotal said.

He turns away and walks onto the platform.

"I do know this: I invited no guests from Earthrealm. Certainly none who would disrupt the execution of justice." Kotal added.

He places a hand on the stocks that the thief was formerly in.

"How do I know you are not allied with Mileena? Perhaps her newfound power has earned her new friends?" He accused them.

~

"Well, shit." Qrow cursed.

~

"Friends? No. No! We're not even sure that's Shinnok's Amulet that she has--." Cassie tries to explain but she was cut off by Kotal.

"She employs Shinnok's Amulet against me?! The very item Earthrealm swore would be safe in it's care?! When Outworld was offered no participation--." Kotal said.

Realising that negotiations are taking a turn for the worse, Kung Jin starts forward.

"We were under attack, not Outworld--." Cassie tried to clarify the confusion.

Jin steps in front of Cassie and interjects.

"Kotal Kahn... The Fire that Burns the Sun. We are here because we share your concerns about the missing item. We intend no ill against your rule." Kung Jin interjected.

"At least one Earthrealmer can forge words like silver. But I recall an Earthrealm expression: "There is more honour among thieves than diplomats."" Kotal said.

~

"It's sad how true that expression is." Ironwood said to himself with a sigh. Being a member of the council, or at least close, he knows how they operated.

~

"I've had the questionable fortune to be both, Emperor. But I'm telling you the truth." Jin said.

"You are allied with Mileena." Kotal said before turning to D'Vorah. "You may carry out your sentence."

"Kotal Kahn, under Outworld law, I claim the right of defense… by kombat." Jin said.

"What?" Takeda asked in confusion.

"You're gonna fight... a duel?" Jacqui asked.

"To absolve us of all accusations." Jin told his team. He then turned to Kotal. "Denying the request brings dishonour upon the accuser."

"You know much of Outworld." Kotal said. He steps down from the platform.

"Know also: The duel ends in death." D'Vorah.

~

"What is it with this place and death?" Asked Robyn.

"Remind me to never go there for vacation." Qrow said.

"Agreed." Robyn said.

~

Jin steps into a fighting stance as Kotal does the same.

"You have won nothing. Merely a few more seconds of breath." Kotal said.

They fight. The battle proved to be one of the toughest of Kung Jin's life. Facing down an Osh-Tekk warrior at full strength is no easy feat, and it takes all of Jin's speed and skill in battle to hang in there. After what seems like a lifetime, Jin finally powers through Kotal's strength and leaves him down on the ground, defeated.

"And now, Emperor?" Jin asked.

Breathing heavily, Kotal cannot find the strength to rise again.

"The charges against you are void. I say to all that Earthrealm means Outworld no harm." Kotal said.

D'Vorah looks shocked at these words. Team S-F can barely believe it either. Kotal gets to his knees, but rises no further.

"Now kill me. Be done with it." Kotal said.

"You're not actually gonna...?" Cassie asked in concern.

Jin steps closer to Kotal.

"Instead of your life, I claim your service." Jin said.

Kotal looks up in surprise.

"If Mileena does have the amulet, we can get it from her more easily if we work together." Jin said.

The Kahn rises to his feet. D'Vorah walks up to him.

"Emperor, they cannot be trusted--." D'Vorah said.

"D'Vorah, can you not perceive? I am indebted to them." Kotal cut them off.

He holds out his arm, and Jin clasps it at the elbow. Kotal returns the hand (or arm) shake.

"You honour us, Kotal Kahn. Our gratitude is wide like the ocean." Kotal said.

Kotal says nothing, but frowns at the words.

"I'll talk to General Blade. Tell her about our new... arrangement." Cassie said.

~

"Well, this is certainly interesting." Ironwood said as he stroked his chin.

"Hopefully this alliance lasts." Glynda spoke.

Qrow let out a quiet chuckle at their words. He knew that they'll be lucky if they don't kill each other after or before they get the amulet back.

~

Chapter five: Sonya Blade

Back at the refugee camp, Sonya walks through with her phone to her ear. A squad of S-F soldiers walks just behind her.

"Thanks for the heads up, Sergeant. Stay with Kotal Kahn. We'll figure out next steps once I've got Kano locked down." Sonya said.

"Yes ma'am. Cage out." Cassie said over the phone.

Sonya stops and looks out at the Outworld refugees.

"He's still here. I can feel it." Sonya said.

As she continues through the camp, she comes across two of her medics carrying a body bag on a stretcher.

"Report." Sonya said sternly.

"One of the refugees. Found her near the north perimeter." A medic said.

Sonya unzips the bag. It contains a young Outworld woman who looks far plainer than Li Mei. Further detracting from her looks is her slashed throat, and adding insult to injury, her tongue is sticking out through the open slit in her neck.

"That's one of Kano's "neckties"." Sonya said.

~

Many of the audience were put off by the sight. Those that are a part of the war with Salem are reminded of one of her agents. A serial killer that kills for the hell of it. The body looked similar to that of the murderer's victims.

~

Her composure briefly drops, but she steels herself in short order and zips the body bag back up.

"Inform Li Mei. Tell her we're investigating." Sonya told the medic.

The medics walk off with the body bag. Sonya pulls out a talisman that acts as a communicator. An image of Raiden is projected on it.

"Raiden, what'd you find?" Sonya asked.

"Shinnok's Amulet has been stolen. Replaced by an exquisite duplicate." Raiden explained.

"Damn it." Sonya cursed.

On the projection, Raiden looks to his left.

"Something is wrong. I will speak to you once I--." Raiden was then cut off as the projection fizzled out.

"Raiden? Raiden!" Sonya exclaimed.

After a moment of contemplation, she puts the talisman in her back pocket while whirling around to address her soldiers.

"Lieutenant, I need you to take a team to Fort Charles. Check in with Raiden and report back." Sonya told the soldiers.

The soldiers march off. Johnny Cage chooses this moment to stroll up to Sonya.

~

"Oh this will be good." Laughed Yang. As she and the other saw the exes coming together.

~

"What's goin' on?" Johnny asked.

"What's your update from Colonel Flagg?" Sonya asked back with her own question

"He said, "Why're you bothering me?" and I said, "Because my ex-wife is a pain in the--." Johnny said.

She holds a hand up to stop Johnny and turns, walking away from him. Johnny is quick to follow and intercept her.

"Where are you going'? You can't just walk away. I'm in this too." Johnny said.

"Not my decision. Thank your buddy, Secretary Blake." Sonya said with disdain.

"THIS is what split us up in the first place. You disappear in your work. Never time for me and Cassie." Johnny shouted back angrily.

"I had responsibilities. Sorry you couldn't be the centre of attention." Sonya said.

Johnny bites back his retort, and delivers a carefully measured response.

"There was a time when you cared more about your family than your job... General." Johnny said sternly.

He walks off. Sonya continues in the direction she was going.

~

All the older members in the audience, even some of the younger, looked at the scene with a somber tone. There were too many times where their job kept them away from their families. Heck, Jonathan retired early so his kids don't feel abandoned. Though he feels like it was too late with Jaune.

~

The scene cuts from there to a castle in the Netherrealm. The words "Twenty Years Ago - Quan Chi's Fortress" appear at the bottom of the screen. Sonya and Johnny have reached the bottom of a large staircase, with a few S-F soldiers in tow. While the soldiers have automatic rifles as firearms, Johnny and Sonya are only using pistols.

"Nope, no evil sorcerers in here." Johnny said, jokingly.

"Would you get serious?" Sonya asked, laughing.

"Quan Chi needs to clean up his man-cave." Johnny said.

"Cleaner than yours." Sonya said with a smirk.

"You're comparing me to Quan Chi?" Johnny said with a raised eyebrow

"Only in terms of cleanliness." Sonya shot back.

They continue further onto the bottom floor. A gigantic pool of dark fluid is the centrepiece of this area, complete with large jars containing embryos of failed experiments. Books and bottles filled with unknown substances dot the area, which is lit only by dark candles. Johnny and Sonya walked over to the pool.

"What's this?" Johnny asked as he kneels down as if to touch it.

"I wouldn't do that." Sonya warned.

"Ah, come on, where's your sense of--." As he touches it, the pool turns blood red and begins to swirl around, like a whirlpool. "...adventure." Johnny said.

The fluid begins to rise at the centre, where the red is fullest. A portal opens before them, prompting Sonya and Johnny to raise their pistols. Quan Chi exits from it, with Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Jax in tow.

"You wish for adventure? You shall have it." Quan Chi said.

The soldiers run up and aim their weapons.

"Fire!" Sonya ordered.

They, Sonya and Johnny cut loose. Quan Chi chants in the Netherrealm tongue and conjures up a wall of green skulls that block all the bullets from hitting him and his revenants. As they stop firing, Sub-Zero shoots off an ice blast that freezes the soldiers solid.

"I have no need for your soldiers. But you and Mister Cage will serve me well - once you are dead." Quan Chi said.

All four of them charge into battle. Sub-Zero and Jax go for Johnny, leaving Sonya with Scorpion and Quan Chi. She blocks their attacks and kicks Scorpion away, then kicks Quan Chi in the midsection and knocks him down with an axe-kick.

Johnny kicks Jax away, lands a solid punch across Sub-Zero's face before downing him with a roundhouse kick. He backflips away from Jax's attacks as Sonya rushes towards Scorpion with some punches. He blocks them all and lands one of his on Sonya, but she punches him right back, kicks him in the stomach and smashes him across the face with a forearm. He staggers back, but doesn't fall.

"Dunno when to quit, do ya?" Sonya asked.

They fight. As formidable a foe as the hellspawn ninja is, Sonya's training and advanced weaponry keep her in the fight long enough for her to take the battle to Scorpion. After a fierce brawl, she leaves him unconscious on the floor.

"Not as tough as you look." Sonya said.

~

"Badass." Commented Yang.

~

Sonya begins fighting with Sub-Zero next. She blocks several of his strikes, but eventually she gets elbowed in the face. She ducks under a roundhouse kick and fights back with a superman punch as Sub-Zero turns round, but he blocks it. Johnny meanwhile continues to fight with Jax. He takes a kick to the side, but strikes the revenant in the face with a superman punch. He follows through with a clothesline, slamming Jax to the ground by his neck. From a seated position, Johnny pounds Jax in the face once more, knocking him out. Cage lets off a brief laugh of triumph before rushing over to Sonya.

She manages to punch Sub-Zero twice in the face and knocks him down with a spin kick to the stomach just as Johnny makes it to her. They nod together and walk toward Quan Chi, who's picking himself off the floor. Unbeknownst to them, Jax wakes up and rises to his feet. Sonya and Johnny both get into fighting stances

"Quan Chi, you've lost." Sonya said.

"A delay, Miss Blade. The inevitable still beckons." Quan Chi said.

Jax manages to sneak up on Johnny and he plunges a dagger into Johnny's back so fiercely that it ends up bursting through his chest with a massive spout of blood.

~

Ruby, Yang, Angela, Saphron, Kali, Terra, and Robyn let out a gasp at the sight. They and everyone, except for Raven, else began to worry for the movie star.

~

"Johnny!" Sonya yelled.

As she turns to try and help, Quan Chi punches Sonya across the face, staggering her backwards. Jax pulls out the dagger and Johnny crumples to the floor, still breathing. The dark fluids of the pool begin to rise in a crimson red whirlpool. A creature of Netherrealm flesh begins to emerge from the pool - and this creature is the undead image of Johnny Cage, slowly being given form.

~

"Well, that's disturbing." Blake said out loud.

"Yup." The rest of RWBY and JNPR nodded in agreement at the sight of an undead duplicate rising from a blood pool (idk what the pool is called.)

~

Sonya blocks several strikes from Quan Chi before punching him in the stomach and kneeing him in the face. She follows through with a right hand strike that sends the sorcerer down to the floor out cold. Desperately, she rushes over to the dying Johnny, who is writhing on the floor as he continues to lose blood.

"You won't be dead for long." Jax said.

Sonya grapples Jax around the waist and throws him to the ground. He rises and gets into a fighting stance.

"This will not happen!" Sonya yelled.

They fight. Fueled by desperation and heroic willpower, Sonya battles with a determination like never before. It proves just enough to defeat the undead Jax and leave him out on the ground.

"I'm sorry, Jax." Sonya said. She rushes over to Johnny's side. He's still alive, but barely. "I'll get you out of here. You'll be fine." She reassured him.

"Dunno. Blood's... s'posed to be... on the inside ..." Johnny groaned out.

The revenant of Johnny is gradually rising from the pool of sorcery, constantly being enriched by its magic. A flash of lightning strikes in the fortress, and the God of Thunder teleports into the fray.

"Raiden!" Sonya shouted.

"I must reverse his spell." Raiden said.

Raiden begins chanting in an ancient tongue, lightning coursing through his hands as he does so. He shoots it at the forming revenant. The lightning begins blasting the magicks away, and the creature begins to descend back into the liquid it was spawned from.

"It's working!" Sonya shouted.

~

Ozpin took interest in the spell that Raiden had been using to reverse Quan Chi's. His mind was in deep thought.

For years, he tried his best to remove Salem's curse. However, his attempts have been unsuccessful, now though he started to think that the key to defeating Salem now relies on these foreign spells.

Though he's have to think on how he's going to pull it off. Especially since his magic reserves were depleting.

~

Quan Chi, however, has risen to his feet in the midst of all this.

"You cannot save him." Quan Chi said.

He fires off a flaming skull at Raiden. It catches him in the chest and disrupts his attack. Immediately, the revenant Johnny begins to rise from the pool again.

"You're weak, Thunder God. Johnny Cage is mine." Quan Chi said.

"No. He's MINE." Sonya said with determination. She then turned to Raiden. "Save him!" Sonya walks toward Quan Chi.

"I've got this son of a bitch!" Sonya said as she got into a fighting stance.

They fight. Her desperation now replaced with anger, Sonya beats the living tar out of Quan Chi. Completely taken aback, the Netherrealm sorcerer can do little against her furious assault, and in short order he's soon down on the ground on all fours, defeated at her hands.

"That wasn't even CLOSE to what you deserve." Sonya growled out.

As Quan Chi gasps for breath, Sonya looks over to Raiden. The revenant of Johnny is still being blasted down by the Thunder God, but it refuses to finally sink down into the dark fluid.

"Sonya Blade! The link with Quan Chi is not completely severed!" Raiden yelled.

"Not a problem." Sonya said.

As Quan Chi looks up into her eyes, Sonya methodically and repeatedly punches him in the face. After several blows, she cuts loose with a knee to the chin that garners an X-Ray shot of his lower jaw being pulverised, complete with several teeth flying out of his mouth. He falls flat on his back and weakly raises a hand upwards. Sonya has none of it and slaps the hand away, before repeatedly stomping on his head. Finally, she walks over to his lower body and carefully parts his legs.

"No!" Quan Chi begged.

His plea is ignored. Sonya delivers one final stomp to his Netherrealm jewels, making sure to give them a good twist with her boot. The pain is finally enough to render Quan Chi unconscious.

~

The sight of Quan Chi getting his ball smashed by Sonya made the women in the audience smile in approval. While the men did the same, they couldn't help but instinctively bring their legs together and hunch slightly. The loud crunch didn't even help with the matter.

~

With Quan Chi down, Raiden is finally able to blast the half-formed revenant back down into the flesh pool. It explodes with a demonic fury, it's energies passing through the entire area of the fortress. Sub-Zero, Scorpion and Jax are all caught by the blast, and the effect it has on them is startling - their flesh is restored to a normal hue, and their eyes no longer glow with a yellow-white light. Sonya is amazed at what she sees; they are all restored to their human forms.

Raiden kneels over Johnny and begins another chant. He directs his energy (a blue light, not his regular lightning blasts) at Johnny's torso wound. Sonya walks over to them.

"The others are restored to the living. By coupling Quan Chi's dark magic to my own, I was able to restore their souls." Raiden explained.

~

Everyone was in awe as they saw Raiden's spell restore the Revenants to human form. Even Ozpin was amazed. 'Perhaps I should ask Arcanus if he can show me how to reverse Salem's curse.' The immortal thought.

~

He finishes his healing spell on Johnny. Sonya bends over his body, her hands on his chest.

"Is he gonna make it?" Sonya asked.

"Haven't I told you? He's a god." Johnny jokes. Johnny sits up, much to Sonya's delight.

"You scared the shit outta me." Sonya said.

"And they said I couldn't do horror films." Johnny said.

The flash of a portal illuminates both of their faces briefly. They turn around to find Quan Chi has escaped through one.

"He's gone?! How did he--?" Sonya asked in confusion.

"We gotta go after him." Johnny said.

He tries to rise fully, even though he's still groggy, but Sonya stops him.

"He can wait. Right now we need to get you and the others back to Earthrealm." Sonya said.

She puts a hand on his shoulder. Johnny stops arguing, and they both share smiles at one another.

~

"Happier times I bet." Ozpin mused.

~

The scene cuts back to the present day refugee camp. Several of the Outworld refugees are waiting in line.

"Why is it taking so long?" A random refugee asked.

An S-F soldier sitting at a table is taking everyone's names.

"Name?" A soldier asked a different refugee.

"Re'em Adu Kaire." The refugee replied.

"Thanks. All right, second line on your left." The soldier said.

Li Mei, Sonya and Kenshi are overseeing all of the refugees being screened.

"You seem to know this "Kano" intimately." Li Mei said to Sonya.

"Not the word I'd use, but yes. I chased him for years until he escaped to Outworld after Shinnok's invasion." Sonya replied.

"Why would he return now?" Kenshi asked.

"All that matters is he's…." Sonya said.

She trails off as she spots the same Outworld woman who was in the body bag earlier, now not sporting Kano's "necktie". A brief flicker on the holographic face confirms her suspicions; it's Kano in a high-tech disguise.

~

"There he is." Robyn said.

~

"...caught. Gotcha." Sonya finished.

She discreetly thumbs over to Kenshi, who moves off to the side. Sonya walks directly toward the disguised Kano. Seeing her coming, he cuts away from the line he's in, but is intercepted by Kenshi.

"Are you lost?" Kenshi asked.

He turns around, but Sonya bars his way. Seeing that there's nowhere to run, Kano disengages his disguise and reveals himself, causing several refugees to backpedal in shock.

"'Ello, love! Been a while!" Kano exclaimed.

"Not long enough." Sonya sneered.

She opens up a call on her communicator.

"This is General Blade. I need MPs to my location immediately." Sonya spoke into her communicator.

"Aww, let's keep this between friends. A trade! Info for freedom." Kano offered.

She gets into a fighting stance.

"I don't negotiate with scumbags." Sonya said with a scowl.

"Well then, if mother won't play nice, maybe daughter will." Kano threatened.

"If you ever--." Sonya threatened back.

"Back off, and all's well. Piss me off, and Cassie's gonna meet Uncle Kano." Kano growled.

~

His threat caused the Arc family to glare at the man. The bastard has the gall to threaten their future daughter-in-law, albeit in an alternate universe.

~

"I swear to God I'll kill you!" Sonya growled.

They fight. Kano proves to be every bit as tough as he was in all of his previous fights with Sonya, and that's not even counting all of the cybernetics he's upgraded his body with. But Sonya has tricks of her own she brings to the forefront, and after an epic battle, she once again manages to leave Kano down and defeated.

"No. I'm not done with you." Sonya said.

She strides over to Kano and knocks him flat on his back with a kick to the face. She then mounts him and punches him twice in the face, before wrapping her hands around his throat. Kano is unable to pry her arms away.

"Alright! Alright! Get off me!" Kano said.

Sonya is in no mood to stop, even with Kano gasping for breath. Johnny pushes his way through the crowd.

"Sonya, ease up!" Johnny said. Trying to disengage the situation. He tries to grab her, but she pushes him away and keeps on strangling Kano.

~

"She's out for blood." Ironwood stated to everyone within hearing range. He recognized the look in Sonya's eyes. The eyes of someone who let vengeance and hate consume them.

~

"You kill me... never find... amulet!" Kano struggled out.

The MPs arrive as well, and point their guns directly at Sonya. Johnny immediately motions for them to stop. They do, but keep their guns trained on her. Johnny desperately looks over to his ex-wife.

"Sonya, we need that info." Johnny said.

She ignores him. Kano's gasps become more and more desperate.

"Sonya... don't make this another thing you'll regret." Johnny said.

She growls angrily, but it looks like Johnny finally got through to her. She let's go and Kano drops back to the ground, taking in deep breaths of air.

"Talk!" Sonya shouted.

Chapter 6 D'Vorah

The scene cuts to Outworld. Takeda and Jin climb up the stairs of Kotal Kahn's palace to meet with Jacqui and Cassie. Cassie is speaking with Sonya over her communication piece, next to a large table which seems to be where Kotal Kahn and his advisors would meet to discuss affairs.

"The Kuatan Jungle?" Cassie asked in confusion. Not sure if she heard her mother right.

"With at least two divisions of Tarkatans. They're on the move constantly to avoid detection." Sonya said.

~

"Similar to how my tribe avoids detection." Raven said bluntly.

~

Jacqui checks something on her communications device, which appears to be a map of sorts.

"That's not far. Maybe two hundred kilometres." Jacqui said.

"You know what to do." Sonya said.

"Yes ma'am." Cassie replied.

"Good luck. Blade out." Sonya said.

Kotal Kahn and D'Vorah walk up to Team S-F from the other side of the table.

"You have new information? From Earthrealm?" Kotal Kahn asked.

"Kano talked. Gave us the details on Mileena's location. She has the amulet, but she's got a lot of protection." Cassie said.

"We will strike immediately." Kotal said.

"Perhaps a two-pronged approach. The army will engage Mileena - distract her - while This One retrieves the amulet." D'Vorah suggested.

"Not alone. "This One's" coming with." Cassie said.

"Stealth is of the essence." D'Vorah argued.

"Did you not hear me?" Cassie asked.

"You may assist in the main strike--." D'Vorah said but was cut off by Kotal.

"D'Vorah. We will grant their request and I will finally be rid of Mileena." Kotal said.

D'Vorah doesn't look too happy at Kotal for this decision, but she says nothing to him.

~

Qrow narrowed his eyes at D'Vorah in suspicion. He had a bad feeling about her.

~

The scene cuts to D'Vorah letting a large maggot run across her hand. The caption "Five Years Ago" reads in the bottom left of the screen. As the maggot continues its course, the camera pans out to show that the scene is set in D'Vorah's apartment, and seated on two stools are Kotal Kahn (without his blue warpaint) and Reptile. D'Vorah remains standing and facing away from them, though she has a stool of her own.

"This One understands your logic, but does not reach the same conclusion." D'Vorah said.

She lets the maggot back down into the egg sack it lives in before turning to face them.

"Like others, This One is not pleased with Mileena as Kahnum. But it is not clear your coup will succeed." D'Vorah said.

"That is why I invited our Zaterran friend." Kotal said as he gestured to Reptile.

"Listen, and join us. I know things about Mileena. Her troubled rule will fall in the telling - and pave the way for Ko'atal." Reptile said.

~

"Woah literal lizard dude." Yang exclaimed.

Blake looked at Reptile with intrigue, part of him made Blake remember some reptile Faunus she had seen back on Menagerie.

Meanwhile, the adults watched the screen with interest. There were times where they had to deal with rogue politicians that were planning a coup. Now though, they get to see the start of the Outworld civil war.

~

"What would you know that would cause--." D'Vorah began to speak but she was cut off. The doors to the apartment are forced open. The three turn to face eight Tarkatans who quickly surround them. Mileena walks in a moment later, flanked by both Ermac and the general of the Tarkatans, Baraka.

"Ah, there they are. Three of your fellow councillors, whispering like handmaidens. About what, I wonder?" Mileena asked.

"If only you would hear our counsel. As war with Netherrealm looms, I have urged detente with Earthrealm." Kotal said.

"And I'VE told you I would sooner die than treat with my father's murderers!" Mileena shouted.

"You refuse practical solutions to credible threats. You endanger the realm." Kotal said.

~

"Yeah, and you're a saint." Qrow snarled sarcastically as he remembered that Kotal almost had a man put to death for trying to eat.

~

"And sedition does not? Speak your last, before I have your tongue." Mileena threatened.

Reptile growls and steps forward, pointing an accusing finger at her.

"You are not Shao Kahn's true heir! She is a construct; formed in Shang Tsung's Flesh Pits. I saw this. Your best claim to the throne is moot." Reptile reveals to everyone. Hissing as he did.

~

"Wait so she was made in a lab?" Weiss said as she and everyone else in the audience was in shock.

"It appears so sister." Winter replied to Weiss.

~

"How dare you! I succeeded Shao Kahn by his decree!" Mileena yelled in outrage.

"Succeed him you have. But Outworld demands new leadership." Kotal said.

"From you? Osh-Tekk fool!" Mileena yelled as she turned to Baraka. "Kill him!"

Baraka obediently lunges forward, but his attempted stab is blocked by D'Vorah.

"This One serves Mileena no longer!" D'Vorah announced.

She punches Baraka across the face. The Tarkatans spring to attack, but Ko'atal and Reptile have little trouble fending them off.

"You will defend your Empress!" Mileena yelled to her soldiers. However, Ermac had other plans

"Our creator, Shao Kahn, is dead. We will serve whom we choose." Ermac spoke.

Mileena screams in fury as Ermac attacks, blocking his strikes as best as she can.

A Tarkatan lunges at Kotal with a flying kick, but the Osh-Tekk grabs his leg and slams him into the floor. Reptile kicks another mutant in the stomach and knees him in the face, before ducking a blade swipe from a third who's leapt up on one of the stools. He throws a kick that misses, but forces the Tarkatan to leap off.

D'Vorah has now extended her spider-like limbs to kombat Baraka. She parries his blade swipes, pushes him back with the limbs and charges forward, tackling him off the balcony of the apartment. As they fall, D'Vorah opens up her wings and flies into the air, while Baraka crashes hard onto the market place below. Bystanders immediately scatter from the area. Baraka picks himself painfully off the ground while D'Vorah gracefully lands.

"Still you follow Mileena?" D'Vorah asked.

"Shao Kahn conquered my realm. I owe him my loyalty. I honour his will." Baraka said.

~

"Shao Kahn must have been a real inspirational leader to this guy who is loyal to him after his death." Ironwood stated.

"Well of course, this Shao Kahn is a conqueror ruling over the weak with his strength. Only makes sense for this Baraka to follow him." Raven said. This caused those who know her to look at the bandit leader with deadpanned expressions.

~

They fight. As vicious and deadly as Baraka is, he proves to be outmatched when facing D'Vorah, who's attack range and powers far outshine him. After a short but fierce battle, Baraka is left staggering on his feet, dazed and helpless.

D'Vorah looks back to her department and spots Ko'atal walking up to the balcony. He looks over to Baraka and gives her the thumbs down - the cue to finish him. In response, D'Vorah extends two of her spider limbs and stabs Baraka through the face and chest, impaling his brain and heart on them both. She pulls her limbs back to her, takes the organs in both her regular hands and slams them together, destroying them in a shower of blood and gore. Baraka's corpse falls backward and remains as food for the flies, and D'Vorah extends her wings and flies back to her apartment.

~

Everyone had different reactions to what they saw. Ruby, Nora, Kali, and Saphron turned to the side and threw up, which magically disappeared before hitting the ground. Winter, Glynda, Qrow, Robyn, Angela, Jonathan, Ghira, Tai, and Terra gagged and threw up a little bit in their mouths. Ozpin, Ironwood, and Raven felt slightly disturbed and flinched. Adrian was busy playing with one of his toys.

~

As D'Vorah returns, Ermac and Reptile have Mileena restrained, though still growling in anger. The other Tarkatans are either dead or unconscious.

"Baraka is dead. Your last ally has left you." D'Vorah said.

Mileena falls silent at these words. Ko'atal takes one of his bloodied shoulder sickles and lifts Mileena's chin with it.

"Take her away." Kotal told Reptile.

The Zaterran does as he is commanded. Ermac watches him and Mileena leave the apartment, and then turns to face Kotal and D'Vorah.

"We would serve the new ruler of Outworld." Ermac said.

"Then you serve... Kotal Kahn." D'Vorah announced.

Kotal nods at her. Both she and Ermac kneel at Kotal's feet, and he looks satisfied at their fealty.

~

"Thus begins the reign of Kotal Kahn." Ozpin muttered to himself.

~

The scene cuts back to the present day, in the Kuatan jungle. Various tents are set up, with Tarkatans running between them. Cassie and D'Vorah sneak into the makeshift campsite. They crouch behind some crates and barrels, while the sounds of battle between two armies is heard close by. D'Vorah leans in close to Cassie, eyeing something in the distance.

"There." D'Vorah pointed out.

She is looking at a large tent a few yards away from their hiding spot. Rain walks out of it, accompanied by a Tarkatan. He says something and the Tarkatan rushes off. D'Vorah sneaks out of cover and Cassie follows. Rain turns to see them both approaching, Cassie drawing her pistols and flanking him from one side, while D'Vorah approaches from the other side.

"Here to surrender, traitor?" Rain asked the Kytinn.

"You would speak of treason? This One knows you desire the throne. Why serve Mileena?" D'Vorah asked in curiosity.

"I advise her. Stealing the amulet was my genius. It kills her a bit each time she uses it." Rain had stated.

"As both sides diminish, you fill the void." D'Vorah said as she realized his plan.

"Exactly my plan." Rain said.

~

Everyone just rolled their eyes at Rain's plan. While yes it was devious but they didn't seem to care. Though the Arc family felt happy that the purple bastard was going to get his ass kicked again.

~

While Rain is speaking, Tanya sneaks up from behind Cassie and grabs her. As they struggle, Rain charges at D'Vorah with a running knee, catching her on the chin. He grabs her arm, pulls her in and punches her in the face. She staggers back into a fighting stance.

"A shame you will not see it's fruition." Rain said.

They fight. With his power over water and lightning alike, the Edenian half-god proves to be a difficult fight for D'Vorah. Nonetheless, her own powers and fighting prowess prove to be too much for him, and he is soon left unconscious at her feet.

"Your schemes end here." D'Vorah said.

The scene pans over to Tanya, who has now straddled Cassie and is pummelling her in the face. As D'Vorah approaches, Tanya stops her attack. D'Vorah pauses for a moment, but turns toward the tent. Tanya stops her by launching a fireball, just missing her by a few inches.

"Leaving without your friend, D'Vorah?" Tanya asked.

She stands up and walks toward her.

"Your people believe we avoided your island out of respect for your solitary nature. We just didn't like you." Tanya said.

"The Kytinn do prefer solitude - which I will achieve momentarily." D'Vorah said.

They fight. Despite being well versed in both magic and kombat, the Edenian soon finds herself being overpowered by D'Vorah, who's control over insects proves to be the decisive factor in the fight. It's not long after that Tanya falls unconscious next to Rain.

"Now two Edenians will die." D'Vorah stated.

She approaches the two of them and extends her spider limbs from her back, but Cassie - now back on her feet - has other ideas.

"I know you said you weren't friends, but you're not killing them. Head's fine, by the way." Cassie said as she approached her.

~

"Shame." The girls with crushes said simultaneously.

~

D'Vorah is clearly annoyed, but retracts her limbs.

"Very well. Let us go." D'Vorah said.

They enter the tent. Inside is a locked chest. Cassie attempts to open the lock.

"Step aside." D'Vorah said.

She does so. D'Vorah puts her hand to the lock. A horde of tiny insects no bigger than ants seemingly spawn from her hand and pour into the lock to devour it from the inside.

"That... is really disturbing." Cassie said.

A shout from outside the tent catches their attention.

"D'Vorah!" Mileena shouted.

She stalks into the tent. Cassie draws her pistol, but D'Vorah barks out an attack in the Kytinn language. Her stomach splits open at the sametime, pouring out a swarm of flying insects that cloud over Mileena. Growling, she backs out of the tent, trying to fend the swarm off with her hands. D'Vorah silently motions to Cassie to stay and guard the chest, before walking out of the tent to confront Mileena.

"This One knew you would not stray far from the amulet." D'Vorah said.

"You took my throne. Now you wish to steal my means of reclaiming it?!" Mileena asked in outrage.

"Neither was meant for you!" D'Vorah exclaimed.

"WHO ARE YOU TO SAY?! I will take something of yours - your LIFE!" Mileena yelled.

~

"She will lose." Raven stated. Everyone turned to her and reluctantly agreed with the bandit. Mileena may seem to be a skilled fighter but her temper and arrogance left her vulnerable to a smarter opponent.

~

They fight. As vicious and skilled a fighter as Mileena is, even she is not a match for D'Vorah's mastery over all things insect. The battle proves to be long and brutal, but in the end the Kytinn is victorious.

"This One will enjoy your death." D'Vorah said.

The scene cuts to some time later, in another tent complete with Osh-Tekk inspired decorations and a large throne styled in the same manner. Kotal Kahn steps up to the throne and sits in it. D'Vorah stands to the left of the throne, while Mileena is on her knees before them both. The battle was evidently won by Kotal's forces, as Team S-F were also present in the tent behind Mileena.

"Enough of your prattle. Finish me, so that I may join my father." Mileena said.

"You do not deserve death by an emperor's hand. Instead I give the honour to my worthy First Minister." Kotal said.

He looks over to D'Vorah, who smiles in anticipation. She strolls up to Mileena, grabs her by both cheeks and - much to Mileena's surprise - kisses her full on the lips. However, the outside of Mileena's mouth - still framed by her Tarkatan features - shows the full story, as insects begin falling out through her enlarged teeth. D'Vorah's minions begin eating Mileena's face from inside her mouth, much to the disgust of Team S-F.

The process only takes a few seconds. By the time D'Vorah lets Mileena go, her face is already a bloody mess. She manages to scream out a last cry of pain and agony, but by then her eyes, hair and the skin on her head is completely gone, consumed by the insects. She falls to the floor, writhing and gurgling as the insects continue to devour the flesh on her skull, even bursting through her stomach as well. A few seconds later, her body is completely still, with pools of blood rising from her head and abdomen.

~

The sudden sight of Mileena's execution made everyone, even Raven, throw up their guts. Once again though, the vomit disappeared before it reached the ground.

~

D'Vorah looks over to Team S-F with an eerie smile on her face before turning back to her position at Kotal's side.

"The rebellion is over." Kotal said.

"Well, thanks for that." Cassie said in disgust before turning to Jacqui. "I know I'll never eat again."

~

"Same." Yang said.

"Yup." Ruby said.

"Agreed." Ren said.

"Indeed." Said Blake

"Yeah." Pyrrha said.

"Ditto." Nora stated.

"as well as I." Said Weiss

~

Jacqui says nothing. Cassie looks back to Kotal, Shinnok's Amulet in her hand.

"With your leave, we're gonna head back to Earthrealm. Put the amulet back where it belongs." Cassie said.

Kotal motions with his right hand, which glows with a dark blue light. Team S-F suddenly find themselves restrained at the waist, with their arms pinned to their sides, by the same blue light that has surrounded them each.

~

"Fucking called it!" Exclaimed Qrow.

~

"The hell are you doing?!" Cassie asked.

Kotal stands up and walks toward her.

"Earthrealm cannot be trusted to protect the amulet. It will remain with me." Kotal said.

He takes the amulet from her.

"The Reiko Accords require that you--." Jin tried to argue.

"The Accords no longer concern me. But you may prove useful - when Raiden comes for this." Kotal said.

Two of Kotal's soldiers take Team S-F by the shoulders, escorting them out of the tent. Kotal looks at the amulet in his hand, and behind him D'Vorah also looks at it.

The scene cuts to D'Vorah, now outside the tent and somewhere in the jungle.

"This One deceived them." D'Vorah said.

A nearby tree obstructs the view of the person she is speaking with.

"The amulet is in Kotal Kahn's possession." D'Vorah said.

"You can retrieve it?" An unknown person said.

"He trusts no one else to transport it." D'Vorah said.

~

"Fucking knew it!" Qrow exclaimed once again. This causes Tai, Raven, Winter, Ironwood, and Glynda to look at him like he grew a second head.

~

"Keeping you close to the Outworld throne these many years has proven most fortunate, D'Vorah." The unknown person said.

The speaker finally shows himself. He is protecting himself through the magical equivalent of a hologram, but it's clear to all who it is - the Netherrealm sorcerer Quan Chi.

"They never suspected one of their own to be a disciple of our lord." Quan Chi said.

"This One lives to serve Shinnok." D'Vorah said.

"You have done well. Now bring it to me." Quan Chi said.

"Without delay, Quan Chi." D'Vorah said.

The scene cuts to the Netherrealm. Quan Chi has his eyes closed, and ghostly green mists project around his head. As he opens his eyes, the mist dissipates. He walks over to where a group of hell-horses (creatures with the body of a horse, the head of a ram and feet and horns that glow white hot at the base) are standing. Mounted on the hell-horses are three of Quan Chi's remaining revenants; Sindel, Kitana and Liu Kang. Kung Lao stands nearby another horse, holding it by it's reins.

"Master." Kung Lao said.

Quan Chi mounts his hell-horse, as does Kung Lao.

"What news from Outworld?" Liu Kang asked.

"Shinnok will soon be freed. We make it for my fortress." Quan Chi said.

They gallop off. The scene cuts back to the Outworld Kove. Two of Kotal Kahn's soldiers hold a treasure chest between them, carrying it down the docks. D'Vorah walks in front of them. With a sly smile on her face, she slowly stops and turns to face them.

"Is there a problem?" One soldier asked.

"Two problems." D'Vorah said.

She sprays them both in the face with yellow resin generated from her hands. The venom in the spray overwhelms the soldiers and kills them within seconds. D'Vorah then breaks into the chest and retrieves Shinnok's Amulet, grinning wickedly as she does so. She stands back up and exits the Kove.

~

The heroes began to fume at the sight of D'Vorah turning traitor.

~

The scene fades from there into a large barn in Earthrealm, focusing on an old red tractor. Jackson Briggs - now in a farmer's outfit, but with his cybernetic arms clearly visible - walks over to the tractor with a screwdriver in hand. He begins to work away on the tractor's motor when Sonya walks into the barn.

"Your wife told me I'd find you in here." Sonya said.

Jax doesn't take his eyes off the tractor.

"You and Vera have a nice chat?" Jax asked.

"Always." Sonya said.

Jax says nothing and walks over to the barn's tool bench. Sonya walks toward the tractor to get a better look

"Is that a National? I haven't seen one this--." Sonya tried to say.

"You didn't come here to discuss farm implements." Jax said. He walks back to the tractor, still not looking at Sonya.

"All right. I'll cut to the chase. I need your help." Sonya revealed.

"My help?" Jax asked.

"I know. I don't have any right to--." Sonya said.

"You knew what I wanted." Jax said.

"Jacqui volunteered. She came to me." Sonya explained.

~

Tai, Jonathan, Ghira, Kali, and Angela couldn't help but agree with Jax but understood what Sonya meant. They all tried their best to make sure that their kids were safe, even if it meant they are hated by their children. Though over time they learned to accept that their kids are old enough to make their own choices. Though Jonathan felt like he didn't give Jaune a choice.

~

Jax says nothing for a moment, and then lets out a long sigh.

"I know." Jax said.

"Listen, I get why you didn't want Jacqui joining S-F. Why you retired. I mean, if I had to live with memories of being one of Quan Chi's thugs? I would've eaten a gun a long time ago." Sonya told her old CO.

~

Most of the older and more experienced of the audience began to ponder Sonya's words. There were times where this life began to take a toll on them. Hell, even Raven thought about it when she started to experience the dark parts of this life.

~

"Well, you know Vera." Laughed Jax. He finally turns to look at her. "She never would've allowed that."

Sonya actually gives a chuckle at this comment.

"So what is it you need help with? The Outworld refugees?" Jax asked.

"Worse. Shinnok's Amulet. Mileena has it." Sonya explained.

"Damn." Jax cursed.

"And we've gotten word from Sareena that Quan Chi has resurfaced in the Netherrealm." Sonya explained.

"He shows his face after twenty-five years... just as Shinnok's Amulet is in play. That's not a coincidence." Jax said.

"That's why I need you. You're Quan Chi expertise. We wouldn't reactivate your commission. You'd be an observer." Sonya said.

Jax looks to be considering the offer, but his face suddenly turns into a frown as he spots Johnny Cage walking up to them both.

"Cage." Jax simply said.

"Jax." Johnny replied.

"What is it?" Sonya asked.

"Just wanted to see if maybe--." Johnny talked but was cut off by Jax.

"You could help close the deal? Yeah, because that worked out so well last time." Jax said.

"Can't blame a guy for trying." Johnny said with a shrug.

Sonya does her level best to ignore Johnny and get Jax back on track.

"We need you, Jax. Help me capture Quan Chi. None of us is safe if he gets near that amulet." Sonya said.

Jax says nothing for a few moments, but finally relents.

"So where's Jacqui in all this?" Jax asked.

"Outworld. With Cassie's team recovering the amulet." Sonya explained.

Jax lets out a loud sigh.

"She'll be fine. We expect to hear "mission accomplished" from them soon." Johnny reassured.

Jax looks unconvinced.

The scene cuts to what appears to be a brig on the lower decks of a docked ship. Inside each of the cells are Team S-F.

~

Everyone couldn't help but to let out a chuckle.

~

Jacqui examines her cell, looking for a way out. Cassie tries forcing the door of her cell open to no success. Kung Jin meditates. Takeda sits on the bench in his cell, one hand on his temple.

"So what'chu guys think? They're gonna kill us?" Jacqui asked.

"They would've done it by now." Takeda replied.

"Unless Kotal Kahn's planning on having us as "guests'' at the Koliseum." Jin said.

Cassie rattles the bars on the cell door, to no avail. She sighs in frustration.

"Well, if they don't kill us, my mother will. Me, at least." Cassie sighed.

"Tough being the general's daughter?" Takeda asked.

"You have no idea." Cassie said.

"I do. My great-whatever grandfather took down Shang Tsung. Saved Earthrealm. How often do you think that comes up at family gatherings?" Kung Jin said.

"That was six hundred years ago." Cassie said.

"And yet you'd think it happened yesterday." Jin said with a sigh.

"No pressure there." Jacqui said.

"I've trained all my life... can fight my way out of (nearly) anything... but I still feel like a second-rate Cage. Hell, sometimes I feel like I don't deserve Jaune." Cassie admitted. This caused Jacqui to look at her with concern.

~

The girls with crushes felt a bit of satisfaction that this hussy feels like she doesn't deserve their blonde knight. as soon as they got this feeling they immediately felt bad.. they shouldn't be thinking these thoughts, they now feel bad.

~

"Hey if Jaune was here he'd probably say something corny like "You're my world." Or "I feel the same"." Jacqui said. This got a brief laugh from everyone.

"Yeah that sounds like him." Cassie chuckled. The memory of her boyfriend always made her smile.

~

This also caused those that knew Jaune to laugh as well. The blonde knight always had the tendency to say the cheesiest things ever. Saphron blamed those cheesy cartoons and action movies.

~

"Yeah well at least you grew up with people expecting things from you." Takeda admitted.

"I thought you and your dad were best friends?" Jacqui asked in confusion.

He gets up and walks toward the cell door, leaning on the bars.

"Now. He was a no-show for a long time." Takeda revealed.

~

Yang couldn't help relate to Takeda in the absentee parent department. The blonde brawler discreetly turned to Raven and lightly glared at her.

Raven felt the stare her daughter was giving but ignored it.

~

"I can relate." Jacqui replied.

"What was that like growing up? Having an ex-revenant father?" Jin asked.

"Jin!" Takeda scolded.

"No, I'm asking! Couldn't have been easy." Jin said.

"...He was just a BIT overprotective. When I joined S-F, Mister Cage insisted on being the one to tell my dad. He thought it'd go over smoother." Jacqui explained.

Cassie chuckles at this.

"I'll never forget that day. My dad came home with a broken jaw." Cassie laughed.

They all share brief chuckles at that comment.

After a moment's silence, they hear footsteps from above the deck. A silhouette appears at the hatch of the deck, and the sound of keys jingling is unmistakable.

"All right, I got this." Takeda said.

"You've got what, exactly?" Cassie asked.

"Trust me." Takeda simply replied.

The hatch is opened. One of Kotal Kahn's soldiers enters the deck with a bucket full of bread loafs. He stops once he reaches the end of the staircase.

"Away from the bars!" The soldier shouted.

Team S-F complied with the order. The soldier tosses the bread loaves to each of them in turn. When he gets to Takeda, he notices the Shirai Ryu in his telepathic stance and steps in for a closer look. Takeda has his eyes closed in concentration, until they suddenly snap open. The soldier groans and tries to clutch his head, but falls unconscious before he can. Takeda leans through the bars and grabs the keys on his waist belt. He unlocks the door to his cell, then follows by unlocking the doors on his friends cells.

~

The hunters, and the hunters in trading were impressed with Takeda. He used his powers to knock the guard unconscious and grab the keys. It was smart.

~

"How'd you do that?" Jacqui asked.

"I overloaded his senses. Only works at short range." Takeda explained.

"Being the son of a telepath has its perks." Jin said.

"I didn't use to think so." Takeda said.

Jacqui looks over to Jin, who shrugs his shoulders. Team S-F all exit the brig.

Chapter 7 Takeda.

The scene cuts to the abandoned city previously seen in Chapter 1.

The words "Five Years Ago" are displayed at the bottom of the screen. Takeda walks through the devastated remains of the once vibrant metropolis, outfitted in the yellow garb of the Shirai Ryu. He warily scans his surroundings, but there are no signs of life throughout the entire urban wasteland.

He approaches the edge of a building, taking cover next to it. As he peeks around the corner, a chained kunai impales itself into the concrete inches from his head. Scorpion - now fully human, and better known as Hanzo Hasashi - pulls his weapon back into his grasp. Hanzo is noticeably wearing ninja garb that is much looser looking than his previous outfit when he was a spectre.

~

Ren's eyes had slightly widened. This was the first time he has seen Scorpion unmasked. But that wasn't why Ren was in slight shock, it was the fact that Scorpion looked so much like his father.

Nora noticed this change of behavior and brought Ren into a surprisingly gentle hug.

~

Takeda charges at him with a scissors kick, but the two strikes are blocked easily by Scorpion. He throws several more kicks, but Scorpion evades them all. The former wraith goes on the offensive with several punches, two of which Takeda isn't quick enough to block. He takes them full in the face.

Takeda rallies and jumps into a spin kick. Hanzo avoids the kick, but Takeda grabs one of his holstered swords from his back. It takes the Shirai Ryu master a few moments - and a double take - before he realises what Takeda did. When he does, he pulls out the other sword and readies himself.

~

Blake couldn't help but feel like she was watching one of the action scenes from her book.

~

The two ninjas engage in a swordfight, each parrying the other's swipes at lightning quick speed. After Hanzo dodges a swipe at his waist, Takeda throws his sword directly at his master's sword-hand. Scorpion blocks the attack and sends the stolen sword soaring skywards, but that gives Takeda the opening to charge forward and jump-kick his master square in the face.

Hasashi falls down hard, and Takahashi catches the falling sword. He swings it downward, but stops it an inch from his master's neck. For a moment he does nothing but give his mentor a knowing look.

"Yield." Takeda said.

Hanzo flashes a brief smile.

"Well done." Hanzo congratulated him.

He lightly pushes the sword away and offers his hand. Takeda accepts it and pulls him to his feet.

"You are now Chujin." Hanzo said.

He places a hand on his chest and bows. Takeda bows in response and offers him back his sword.

"You honour me, Master Hasashi." Takeda said humbly.

Scorpion takes the blade back and holsters it.

"Now that I'm Chujin, how will I serve the clan?" Takeda asked.

"Your future does not lie with the Shirai Ryu." Hanzo revealed.

"But... the clan's my family." Takeda argued.

Scorpion turns away, but continues speaking.

"When I took you in, I promised your father--." Hanzo began to speak but was cut off.

"I don't have a father." Takeda said angrily.

A new voice catches Takeda's attention.

"Yes you do. One who's proud of you. A Chujin in record time." Kenshi said.

~

Yang couldn't help but frown at the interaction between the three. She knew all too well what family issues can do to someone's emotional health.

~

The blind swordsman bows to Takeda, but the younger man looks furious rather than happy.

"You knew he was coming? You said nothing?!" Takeda asked his mentor. Clearly showing his anger.

"Knowing this would be your reaction, yes." Hanzo said.

~

Yang simply furrowed her brow at the screen. Her eyes flashing a bright red for a brief moment. She couldn't help but somewhat relate to Takeda.

~

Takeda moves forward, ready to attack his father.

"Takeda! Your father is not your enemy." Hanzo said in a commanding voice.

The younger Takahashi remains unconvinced, and he addresses the elder Takahashi directly.

"Ten years. No visits, nothing. You abandoned me." Takeda said through gritted teeth.

"I did not abandon you--." Kenshi tried to explain.

"I was eight! My mother had just died! NOW you come back? Think you can jump right in as the proud dad?" Takeda said with anger in his voice.

"Son, I--." Kenshi tried to speak again. He tries to touch Takeda's shoulder, but finds his hand angrily slapped away.

"To hell with you! I am not your son!" Takeda shouted.

~

Once again, Yang couldn't help but relate to Takeda.

~

They fight. Reluctant to fight his own flesh and blood, Kenshi is soon at the disadvantage against the newly minted Chujin. After a brief melee, he is soon down on the ground thanks to his son.

"Now get up! I wanna knock you down again!" Takeda demanded.

As Kenshi is rising, Takeda moves in to strike him again.

"Takeda, CEASE!" Hanzo ordered.

At his master's voice, Takeda stops in mid-strike.

"Kenshi did not abandon you. He brought you here for your protection." Hanzo explained.

"Protection from what?!" Takeda asked in confusion.

"From those who murdered your mother." Hanzo revealed.

"She... she died in an accident!" Takeda said. Clearly showing how he is taking the news.

"That is the story I asked Master Hasashi to tell you." Kenshi explained. He stands to his feet. "But in truth, your mother was killed by Red Dragon assassins. I was the target. Suchin was the victim." Kenshi finished with his head lowering in shame.

Takeda growls in fury and lunges forward, grabbing Kenshi by his outfit.

"Son of a bitch! It was your fault!" Takeda yelled.

He makes no move to strike him, though. Hanzo slowly steps forward.

"Your father has devoted his life to fighting animals like the Red Dragon. It is they who are without honour." Hanzo said.

~

"Wait, aren't the Red Dragon the ones that Jaune fought when he came to Earthrealm?" Pyrrha asked as the name was familiar to her and her friends.

"You are indeed correct, Miss Nikos." Glynda responded to the spartan.

~

Takeda lets his father go and walks away, taking a moment to collect his emotions. Beneath his anger, pain is clearly visible on his face.

"You shouldn't have hidden the truth." Takeda said.

"You would have gone after your mother's killers unprepared. I could not risk that." Kenshi said.

~

Everyone, minus Raven for obvious reasons, began to understand what Kenshi meant. Though most of them were miffed about the abandonment thing.

~

Takeda says nothing, but slowly processes the information he's being told.

"Master Hasashi has perfected your fighting skills." Kenshi said.

His next words echo in Takeda's head, rather than being spoken aloud.

"Now it is time to complete your training." Kenshi continued telepathically.

Takeda instinctively puts his hand to his head, in the stance he will later adopt when putting his own telepathic skills to use.

"How-- how did you do that?" Takeda asked in confusion.

"We are telepaths. A family gift." Kenshi continued in telepathy.

"I can read minds?" Takeda asked in surprise

"Through training, we will determine your full abilities." Kenshi said. He reverts to speaking his next words. "And then we will hunt down the Red Dragon. Together."

He puts a hand on Takeda's shoulder. This time it is not slapped away.

~

"That sounds so awesome." Ruby said with stars in her eyes.

"I know right, just imagine it. We would know what our teams are thinking at all times!" Exclaimed Nora.

Ren, Weiss, and Pyrrha shuddered at the possibility of Ruby and Nora being mind readers.

~

The scene cuts back to the present day. Team S-F take cover behind the side of the docked ship they were kept prisoner in. They spot Reptile, Ermac and Erron Black looking over the bodies of the soldiers killed by D'Vorah earlier.

"This is D'Vorah's work." Reptile stated.

"No argument there. Only she could create wounds like these." Erron said.

"That D'Vorah's full of surprises." Takeda said to Cassie.

"Question is, is she working with anyone else?" Erron asked.

Reptile sniffs the air and straightens up, seemingly catching a scent. He turns to face the docked ship. Erron notices and stands up as well.

"What is it?" Erron asked

Team S-F duck back down behind cover.

"Damn. He's made us." Takeda cursed.

"Okay guys, standard diamond formation. Takeda, you're on point. Jacqui, bring up the rear. Kung Jin, air cover." Cassie ordered.

Jin pulls an arrow from his quiver.

"You got it." Kung Jin nodded.

On the dock, Reptile confirms his suspicions.

"The Earthrealmers! D'Vorah freed them!" Reptile shouted.

~

"Well, shit." Qrow cursed.

"Can you stop cursing for like five minutes?" Tai said as he felt like that one of the kids was gonna start cursing. Even though most of them are teenagers that heard much worse really. Though maybe Adrian.

"Whatever." Qrow rolled his eyes as he took a drink.

~

Takeda, Cassie and Jacqui charge out of cover. As the Outworlders get into a fighting stance, Kung Jin lets loose an arrow that hits at their feet, unleashing a cloud of blue gas into the air. Team S-F moves in as they struggle to catch their breath.

Jacqui charges down Erron Black and Cassie engaged Ermac. Takeda runs up to Reptile and issues a challenge in Japanese. Reptile growls in response and turns invisible. Takeda looks around in anticipation, and finds Reptile directly in front of him, readying a punch. Takeda lands one of his own before it connects, staggering the Zaterran and turning him invisible again.

As Takeda looks around for Reptile, the lizardman is briefly outlined as he sneaks round Takeda's back. He comes at him from his right side with another punch, but Takeda blocks it and lands two hits of his own. Reptile is forced to back away and turn invisible once more.

As Takeda looks over the docks for his unseen foe, he notices a nearby barrel move and falls into the water. He puts two fingers to his temple and - remembering Sub-Zero's training from earlier - realises that it was a distraction. He turns around to spot Reptile attacking him from behind. Takeda once again blocks his strike and throws a punch that catches Reptile in the kidney. He follows with a face strike and kicks him in the chest, sending him sprawling and turning invisible yet again.

Takeda holds his telepath stance yet again this time, and closes his eyes in concentration. As Reptile charges him from behind, Takeda turns and throws a fist that catches the Zaterran square on the forehead. He falls down and turns invisible for a fifth time.

~

"You'd think they would learn by now." Weiss said.

"Actually sister, you would be surprised by how many people do something similar." Winter spoke. She remembers when some of her fellow specialists only used one trick that never worked and yet they do it again.

~

As Takeda once again puts two fingers to his temple and closes his eyes, Reptile uncloaks a good few steps away from him and throws out his extendable tongue. Takeda catches it without even looking, then pulls Reptile in and punches him thrice in the face, staggering him back.

They fight. Already weakened by Takeda's defense, Reptile finds himself at the disadvantage against the Shirai Ryu's fighting techniques and advanced weaponry. It isn't long until the Zaterrean lies defeated on the docks.

"One down. Two to go." Takeda said.

Kung Jin has moved up and is now taking on Erron Black. He isn't faring too well, as Erron kicks him in the side and then kicks his legs out from under him. As Jin falls, Erron slams a fist into his abdomen, leaving him reeling on the ground in pain. Black aims his revolver at Kung Jin's head, but Takeda uses his whips to grab Erron by the ankles, dragging him off his feet.

~

'Maybe I should get a whip to use as a secondary weapon.' Blake thought to herself. As soon as she did her mind immediately went lewd as she imagined Jaune using it on her. She felt her nose bleed a bit and the cat Faunus quickly wiped it off.

Meanwhile Ruby and Pyrrha felt like hitting Blake.

~

Takeda turns in the opposite direction and gives the whip a hard tug, sending Black flying over his head and through the staircase to the docked ship, demolishing it completely. With Erron down for the moment, Takeda runs over to Jin and helps him back to his feet.

"When we get back, you're teaching me that." Jin said.

"Deal. Go help with Ermac. I've got this." Takeda said.

Behind them, Erron kips up to his feet and charges Takeda. The ninja turns around and tries to slide tackle Black, but the outlaw vaults over him, coming down into a roll to his feet. Takeda also spins back to his feet.

"Think you can handle me alone? You're either brave or foolish." Erron said.

They fight. Takeda proves his bravery twice over through his speed and skill, and takes the battle right to the mercenary. After a hard fought battle, Takeda leaves Black as unconscious as he did Reptile.

"Brave or foolish, I'm alive." Takeda said.

~

'Gotta use that one in the future.' Qrow and Yang thought to themselves at the same time.

~

Over at the end of the docks, Ermac has been keeping the rest of Team S-F at bay easily enough. He faceplants Kung Jin with a telekinetic slam, blasts Jacqui right down the docks with a burst of soul energy and caps it off by deflecting Cassie's gun from her hand, before levitating her into the air. Before Ermac can finish her, Takeda grapples him in a sleeper hold, breaking the energies keeping Cassie in the air. She falls unconscious, and Ermac is unable to bring his powers to Takeda while grappled.

"Let's see what's worth learning in there." Takeda said. He slams a palm onto Ermac's forehead. Takeda only holds it there a couple of moments before he cries out in pain and reels backward, clutching his head and letting go of Ermac.

"So many minds... trapped inside…." Takeda said through pain.

"We exist to serve. Bound by Shao Kahn's magic." Ermac.

"The chaos... the voices…." Takeda stuttered.

"We are many. You are one. Your abilities pale before us." Ermac said.

They fight. The battle proves to be one of the toughest challenges Takeda has ever faced, for Ermac was hardly weakened by the onslaught of Team S-F and Takeda himself is still disoriented after trying to read his mind. Nonetheless, the Shirai Ryu Chujin steps up to the task and fights with all he has. In the end it proves to be just enough to defeat the many souled warrior.

"I think I've had enough of Outworld." Takeda said.

~

"You and me both, kid." Robyn said. While so far she was reminded of Vacuo when she saw Outworld. She couldn't help but feel like the place needed to make some big changes.

~

Takeda walks over to his teammates, who have just finished picking themselves off the docks.

"I'm starting to get why my dad retired." Jacqui said.

"We have to find D'Vorah. Get the amulet." Cassie said.

"Let's go. They won't be out long." Jin said.

They depart. The scene cuts to Kotal Kahn's palace. Reptile, Erron and Ermac are all either seated or standing around the table, with the Kahn pacing nearby.

"D'Vorah? And the Earthrealmers?" Kotal said.

"She stole the amulet, then helped them escape." Erron said.

"She betrayed us to the Thunder God." Reptile said.

Kotal shakes his head in disappointment.

"You wound me, D'Vorah." Kotal said. He turns to his lieutenants. "Prepare the legions. We go to Earthrealm. We will wrest back the amulet from that devil Raiden."

~

"Well, shit." Cursed Qrow as he and the others began to worry of the events that are about to unfold before them.

"Kotal believes that D'Vorah was loyal to Raiden." Glynda spoke.

"Without knowing the truth, Kotal will most likely start a war." Added Ironwood.

"We can only hope that it will not come to that." Ozpin said as he took a sip of his mug.

To be continued.