AN: Not much action this time around. Expect some fluff and some new characters incoming, though.

Outworld, Unknown Location

Izuku finished patching up Smoke's leg with the first aid kit he'd stored in his jacket. "You sure you don't need our help?" he couldn't help but ask.

Smoke nodded. "I'm sure. I thank you for the offer."

Izuku sighed, before standing up. "Well, your leg should be fine enough to walk on your own, but I still recommend getting some rest. Then again, I'm not a doctor, so do whatever you feel is best."

Smoke nodded. He slowly got up from the rock he'd been sitting on previousy. He bowed to Izuku, before walking away. Izuku sighed, before opening up comms. His voice came through on the other side gravely and distorted.

"Deku here. I know I said that we should keep comms closed, but now that Sonya safe, I feel that it's safer to talk to each other again."

Nothing came through.

"Uhh, hello? What's going on, is everything alright?"

A crackle was heard. "Izuku? Jesus, am I glad to hear a friendly voice on here."

Izuku sighed again. "Johnny, come on. Me and the other guy are trying real hard to be incognito. You can't just blurt out-"

"It's Jax, he's been hurt, bad! Sonya and him left Outworld some time ago, but the situation isn't looking too good. Dragon dude wants to meet everyone in the hideout he was able to get for us."

Izuku cursed. "Give me your coordinates. I'm on my way."

Some Time Later, Edenian Caves

P.O.V Switch - Mileena

Mileena was once again reading the pages her green-haired friend had written about her. More specifically, the part about her temper being a rather easily exploitable weakness. Both her and Kitana's veils were placed on the oak table next to them.

Mileena took a few moments to ponder about that part of Izuku's notes. She couldn't deny that what he'd written was true. As soon as Izuku had managed to lay a finger on her, she'd lost control of her anger and attacked like an animal. Lately, however, she'd found that the anger she used to carry before the start of the Mortal Kombat Tournament in Earthrealm had all but disappeared. She didn't know why, but she had a feeling it had to do with her confession to her sister.

Speaking of her sister….

"I can't help but worry about Jade, Mileena." Kitana stated, practicing her kata once again.

Mileena sighed. "We've been over this, Kitana. Jade thinks it's best to have a pair of eyes in Shao Khan's court in case he tries anything drastic. It's thanks to her that we were able to find out about the traps Shang Tsung had set up in the dorm furnished for the Earthrealmers."

Kitana nodded. "That much is true, but Shao Khan is capable of anything. I shudder to imagine what he'd do to her if he discovers where her true loyalties lie."

"You have to have faith, sister. Jade hasn't let us down yet, in all the time we've known her." Mileena replied.

Mileena went back to reading Izuku's notes, only pausing a few minutes later when she realized that Kitana had been staring at something the whole time.

Or to be more accurate, someone.

Mileena snickered. Kitana's crush on the Earthrealm monk was obvious to literally everyone but herself and the monk in question. The only reason Jade didn't joke about it in front of Kitana was because she didn't want to embarass her friend and master.

Mileena, on the other hand, had no such qualms.

"I can't help but ask, does the secret in defeating Shao Khan lie in the face of the monk you keep staring at?"

Kitana sputtered. "S-Shut up! At least I'm not as bad as you! You couldn't be more obvious if you tried!"

Mileena frowned. "What does that mean?! Izuku and I are just friends!"

Kitana smirked. "Interesting that you said his name when I didn't even mention him. A friend whose face you painstakingly drew on their own notes of you, hmm?"

Ack

As Mileena tried to come up with a defense for herself, a pair of gloved hands enclosed themselves around Mileena's chair.

"Someone call me?" a familiar voice asked.

Mileena shrieked, falling down from the chair, while Kitana couldn't help but laugh at the situation.

"Izuku! Hi! Uhm, uh...don't take this the wrong way, but how did you get here?"

The vigilante gave her a strange look, before pointing backwards at his friends. "I was invited. Johnny told me the secret passcode and everything to get here. Gotta say, Kitana, you certainly know how to pick your hideouts."

Kitana smirked, before turning to Mileena. "If you want to thank anyone, thank Mileena. She's the one that suggested that we could use this place."

What?! That was a lie! It had been Kitana's idea! Why was she lying!

Izuku turned to smile at her, and Mileena felt something strange fluttering in her chest. "Really? Well, thanks! It's been a hell of a slog today. A nice bit of scenery like this is just what I needed."

Mileena chuckled, trying to control the heat that was burning in her cheeks. "It's no trouble, you are a friend, after all. And friends should stick together in times like this."

Izuku nodded, before turning his head to something nearby.

He smirked. "I see you've been using my notes." Izuku stated. His eyes narrowed. "Hold on, is that a picture of me?"

Oh no.

Izuku walked up to the table, looking at the portrait Mileena had drawn. "Wow, this is really good! You drew this?"

Mileena's throat felt a little dry, all of a sudden.

"Y-yes. I drew that."

Izuku chuckled. "It's great! I mean, you've probably taken some artistic license, since my face can't look that good, but it's a great drawing nonetheless."

Mileena felt a sudden need to argue against that, but stamped that feeling out rather quickly. She looked downwards. "I'm glad you like it." she said quietly.

Izuku spotted someone running towards him. He sighed. "Well, looks like duty calls. I gotta go see what's the situation like with the others. I'll talk to you later."

"Later." Mileena replied, as Izuku walked away to his friends. Kitana hid her mouth in her hands, unsuccessfully trying to hide her laughter. Mileena glared. "Stop laughing!" she exclaimed, taking a random book out from a nearby bookshelf and throwing it at her sister.

P.O.V Switch - Izuku

Izuku sat down on a chair, facing the rest of the Earthrealm warriors, who surrounded the rather large table.

"Alright, I'm here, what's the situation?"

Johnny sighed. "Jax and Sonya are outta the tournament. They were challenged in Mortal Kombat by Ermac. Jax lost both his arms, and Sonya was able to barely escape with him to safety. Both of em are in Earthrealm now, and Jax is getting some cybernetic replacements, but we can't expect anything from 'em going forwards. Funnily enough, Jax and Sonya were saved by someone else, some guy who's going by the name of Sub-Zero."

Izuku froze. "Shit. I met a guy who was looking for this new Sub-Zero. Said his name was Smoke, and that the two of them were in danger from some kind of cyberiza-"

At that moment, Izuku remembered.

"Cyrax, the Cyber Initiative, are you certain you have no qualms with it?"

"...the Grand Master himself said that it was optional!"

Izuku brought his fist down on the table. "FUCK! I remember! One night, I was eavesdropping on a conversation between Sektor and Cyrax, and Sektor bought up something called the 'Cyber Initiative'. From what I remember, Cyrax seemed to think it was optional, but from what little I heard and saw today, he may have been lied to. I also have a feeling that this is what caused the two tech readings on Sonya's radar. Sektor and Cyrax are here, in Outworld, and they're looking for Smoke and this new Sub-Zero. Dammit, I should have just bought Smoke here! He's in deeper shit than he wanted to admit!"

"If this Smoke was not ready to admit the danger he was in then, I doubt he would change his mind if you bought him here by force."A man in a red blindfold stated, a sword strapped to his back.

Izuku frowned. He turned to Johnny. "Mind explaining the new guy?" he asked.

Johnny shrugged. "He was already here when we walked in. His name's Kenshi, and apparently, this dude wants to kill Shang Tsung, for some reason he doesn't want to tell us."

"My reasons are my own." Kenshi said, calmly.

Izuku sighed. "Well, if Kitana vouched for you, then I can't really argue against that. Welcome, I guess." He turned around to look at the rest of the table. "What else've you got for me?"

Liu Kang continued the conversation. "Kitana's told us how the tournament will be like, going forward. Shao Khan is constructing a Coliseum for all Kombatants to participate in. There's rumors that a village and it's people that have been forced into constructing it, but we have no idea who or where they are. The only people that know are Shang Tsung and Shao Khan."

Izuku nodded. "That doesn't sound good. I'll keep an eye out for the village you're talking about, but in the meantime, we need a plan on how to win this tournament." Izuku turned to each member he addressed. "Johnny, you'll probably be a person of interest to Khan, since you lasted the longest in the previous tournament. Liu Kang, as long as we keep ourselves hidden, we hold an advantage, no matter how small it is. Kung Lao, remember what I told Jax. Don't say anything. Plausible deniability's hell of a thing. Kenshi, I have no idea what to tell you, other than the fact that you most likely'll have to wait until near the end of the tournament for the best chance at killing Shang Tsung. In the meantime, all we can do is hide and wait until the tournament really does begin."

Everyone in the table nodded in agreement. Izuku rose up from his seat. "Alright, meeting adjourned! I'm gonna hit the sack, it's been a really long day."

P.O.V Switch - Sub-Zero

Sub-Zero walked across the large expanse of desert in front of him. He was glad that his cryomancy could be used to conjure water out of thin air. Without it, Sub-Zero had no doubt he'd have collapsed of dehydration long ago. The ninja had taken off the upper part of his mask, letting his hair free. As he trekked across the desert, Kuai Liang saw something in the distance. It looked almost like a...Coliseum?

Try the Coliseum, when it opens up. That's where you'll find all the Kombatants participating in the tournament.

Sub-Zero ran, desperate to confirm if what he was seeing was true, only to stop once he saw what was laid in front of him.

Dozens upon dozens of people, groaning and moaning, as they all had to work on constructing the large Coliseum that he had seen in the distance. A creature stood over them, looking just like the one he'd been interrogating some time ago. He roared and shrieked and cracked a whip at them, shouting at them to keep working. A woman fell down from the scaffolding, exhausted and most likely dehydrated. Before he could even think, Sub-Zero found himself catching the woman.

Kuai Liang froze. The woman, even though it looked like she hadn't slept in days and had been working herself to the bone, was beautiful, with raven black hair that had been tied with a purple rag.

The activation of a blade bought Sub-Zero out of his stupor. The creature struck at him with one of it's arm blades, only to find that Sub-Zero had already caught it's arm and was holding it behind their back.

"Who are these people, why are they here?!" Sub-Zero commanded.

The creature snarled and hissed, trying to attack. An old man came out of the line of people.

"Kind stranger, we are members of a nearby village, one that has been forced into constructing this building that you see before you."

Sub-Zero encased the creature in ice, before turning to the old man. Just as he was about to ask another question, the woman he had set down whispered "Water…" in a barely audible voice. Kuai Liang quickly knelt down and instructed the old man to hold the woman's head up. He constructed a small bit of ice, before commanding it to melt over his hands. Kuai Liang then poured the water from his palms into the woman's mouth. The woman greedily drank, before opening her eyes a small bit. "Who…"

"Easy there." Kuai Liang replied. "You're suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. I wouldn't recommend you do anything too straining for the next few hours."

Kuai Liang got up, turning to the old man. "Why are your people this dehydrated? Are you being deprived of water?"

The old man nodded. "We have been dragged from our homes to work on this coliseum, without food, water, or rest. The Tarkatans are slave drivers, not letting us rest for even a little bit. Many of us have died already."

Kuai Liang shook his head. "Why?" he couldn't help but ask. The old man scoffed. "Because we dared to go against Shao Khan, of course! We argued against the tournament, and now, our people are suffering in droves! By the end of this madness, when we are all dead, I will not be surprised if Shao Khan will burn our village down and salt the remains of the earth left behind. The only thing I am thankful for is that they didn't do worse."

Kuai Liang was incredulous. "Worse? How could things be worse?!"

The old man shook his head. "Never underestimate the depravity of Shao Khan or the Tarkatans, stranger. Best those things be left unsaid, especially when a young woman like our village leader is concerned."

Sub-Zero nodded, before turning to the Tarkatan. He commanded the ice to break apart, before grabbing the Tarkatan by his gi, and then slamming him onto the wall.

The Tarkatan continued to growl and hiss, before his eyes fell upon a symbol. He froze.

Sub-Zero smirked underneath the respirator. "You know what this symbol stands for, I take it. Do you know who I am?"

The creature nodded, not uttering a word. "Then you know what I'll do to you if you don't answer my questions, correct?"

The creature nodded again.

"Talk then, why are you withholding resources from these people!"

"I-i-it's not what you think! Yes, they have displeased Shao Khan, but he has strictly told us to only kill as many as necessary! B-but…"

Sub-Zero slammed the creature against the wall again. "Don't let it get stuck in your throat! Speak!"

"There isn't enough! All the resources that these workers need are being withheld for some event in the future!"

"What is this event?!"

"I don't know!"

Sub-Zero growled, his hands startng to freeze the Tarkatan.

"I DON'T KNOW, I SWEAR!" the creature wailed. Sub-Zero's hands defrosted.

"If that's true, why are you working these people to death?!"

"Shao Khan and Shang Tsung have commanded a deadline for this project! They want the Koliseum finished by the end of this week! If it isn't finished, I'll be executed, alongside all these villagers! Already two of my predecessors are dead, and I just got the command today!"

"A real saint, aren't you?" Sub-Zero growled.

"Oi, I'm not sure about you, asshole but I'm rather fond of living!"

Sub-Zero sighed, releasing the Tarkatan. The Tarkatan coughed and sputtered, greedily sucking in gulps of air.

Sub Zero took a breath, before speaking. "What if I helped you complete this Coliseum, without killing all these people?"

The Tarkatan rubbed his throat. "Yeah? Why's this stupid Koliseum so important to you?"

"Because my brother's killer will be here, and I can't have anything stand in the way of that, but I won't let you kill innocent people to achieve that goal. I will procure water and aid for these people, if you promise to not work them to death."

The Tarkatan nodded. "Fine. But you better get that Coliseum ready, or it'll be our heads!"

As the Tarkatan grumbled and walked away, the woman once again called out to Kuai Liang.

"Who….who are you?." she whispered. Kuai Liang froze for a few seconds, before replying.

"Sub-Zero."

The woman smiled. "Li Mei. Thank you...for saving my people."

AN: And now we introduce another pairing I've got in my head for this story! The next few parts of this story will take more of a focus on Sub-Zero and developing his character. Also, a bit of a heads up, expect to see more of this random Tarkatan Sub-Zero just interrogated.

Sorry for the wait, guys, but I've been really busy the past few days. I'm still a little swamped, so I'm not sure how consistent my update schedule will be for the next week or two. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!