Raya stood with Raiden and Sub-Zero in an area with stone walls. It looked depressing but it was neat, and for some reason the place felt like home and as though it was flowering with life.
"What now?" Raya asked grumpily.
"Uh... meet the others?" Sub-Zero said uneasily.
"Yes, then we decide where you belong, you know, what clan." Raiden added.
"Um...Raiden?" Sub-Zero shuffled nervously.
"What is it?" Raiden said impatiently.
"The Lin Kuei has requested her. They need more assassins." Sub-Zero replied.
"Heck no!" Raya jumped in. "I do not assassinate! It's against my religion! I know killing is period, but killing in cold blood?! Not happening!"
"You will be trained for all that." Sub-Zero replied flatly.
"Too bad! You can't train me if I don't want to be trained!" Raya snapped
"Enough!" Raiden thundered. "We will discuss this later."
"I wanna meet Kitana, Mavado, Frost, Nitara, and Shang Tsung!" Raya chirped.
"Sure, but all we have here on that list of yours is Kitana and Frost." Sub-Zero said.
"Then we'll take you to the town for awhile. I'm sure you'll meet Mavado there." Sub-Zero said and sneered a little when he said Mavado.
Jessica caught the sneer. "Don't sneer at my kick butt teammate, I've won many tournaments with him. He made me best in the state."
Sub-Zero looked confused.
"There is apparently a game on us, and Mavado is her favorite and she fights best using him. I copied her room and made a room equal to it. I'm sure she'll show you the game." Raiden explained.
Sub-Zero nodded.
"Raya, when you go to town I will not be there. Sub-Zero will take you I'm sure and maybe Frost or Kitana. Maybe even Sonya." Raiden added.
"Sure, whatever." Raya said as she skipped down the hall.
Raiden and Sub-Zero caught up to her.
As the three entered the room everyone looked to Raya.
"A newbie." Johnny Cage sneered.
"I prefer the term newcomer, Johnny." Raya snapped.
"How does she know my name?" Johnny asked Raiden.
"Long story." Raiden replied simply then turned to Sub-Zero. "I must go now. Sub-Zero, watch her. She has a mischievous, reckless, and rebellious spirit."
Sub-Zero nodded.
"Goodness! There's Kitana! Frost! Oh, how could I forget Sonya?!" Raya was giddy with excitement.
Sub-Zero rolled his eyes and went to help with introductions, afterwards he grabbed Frost and the three of them were going off into town.
"You know Frost, my best friend is your biggest fan." Raya chirped.
"Really now." Frost said, interested.
"Yep. I'll explain how she knows about you later. But first I've got to check out the bar, I'm sure it has karaoke." Raya replied, now sidetracked.
"Raya, are you sure that's wise?" Sub-Zero said. "Mavado may be there."
"Cool. But anyway I'm sure my destiny awaits me there." Raya said sarcastically. "I need to sing anyway."
"O.K." Sub-Zero gave in.
Inside were many people. Raya was astonished. The place was bursting with excitement and Raya felt some seep into her. The only question was, how could she muster enough courage to sing in front of this many people. Some may not even be human.
"Erf." Raya squeaked.
But sure enough, Mavado was there. Raya wasn't sure whether to be excited or scared out of her wits.
"By the way Raya." Sub-Zero began. "Here they pick the people who entertain by chance. It gives them an opportunity to laugh at others. They tend to pick newbies."
Frost nodded.
"Then let's hope they pick me." Raya replied calmly, feeling quite the opposite.
Raya then headed to the front of the crowd. Sub-Zero and Frost followed closely.
A man walked onto the stage.
"Who's ready for the karaoke?" The man snickered.
A chorus of shouts answered his question.
"Okay then let me pick someone to start off. Remember, they get to pick their own song to sing." The man on stage said then scanned the crowd. Some new people shrank back.
The man noticed Raya in her tank top and blue jeans.
"How about you?" The man pointed at her.
"Sure, why not? You only live once right?" Raya said all too cheerfully.
"Okay, here's the mike." The man handed her the microphone. "Break a leg smart aleck."
"Smart aleck?" Raya asked, confused. She then remembered what Sub-Zero had said. "Oh right! You like to laugh at the people who can't sing or are just plain a nervous wreck. Well you're outta luck here pal. I've taken vocal lessons with my best bud. She and I were supposed to do a duet tomorrow."
"You mean sing together?" The man asked.
"No! I mean stand on our heads." Raya rolled her eyes. "Of course we sing together dildo!"
The man glared at her. "What will you be singing?"
"I was thinking I Love Rock & Roll. Skip the Britney Spears and Crossroads crap though. My gosh am I sick of it!"
"Okay..." The man trailed off.
"Great!" Raya cried.
"What's your weakness on stage?" The man asked slyly.
"I dunno. Hmm...." Raya carried off.
"Cut the small talk and answer." The man snapped.
"Oh, but I live for small talk. Actually that could be a weakness. But you see I'll go nuts for anything MK." Jessica replied, changing the subject.
"Okay then." The man was getting annoyed.
"Hey, shut up. I'm trying to have a good time. I have to miss the gymnastics championships for this." Raya snapped.
"Gymnastics?" The man thought he was getting somewhere.
"You know. This." Raya said, then did a perfect backflip with a somersault in mid-air. "I'm captain. I need to be the best." Raya added as she landed silently and perfectly.
The man turned pale. "Okay I think our customers are getting bored."
Raya nodded. "Is it time to kick it up?"
"Uh, sure, whatever." The man sighed.
Raya looked over to where Mavado sat. She did not want to meet him. He looked almost exactly the same as on the games except something was different, something she couldn't pinpoint. It was almost as if he was darker, nastier, frightening somehow. Was it possible this wasn't all she thought it was cracked up to be? Was she in some sort of danger?