I'm moving this story over from AO3 to see if more people will leave reviews. I'm not using any of the Mortal Kombat comics for this, and I refuse to use 11 outside of some characters. Let me know what you think and any suggestions you may have for future chapters.
XXX
One year after Cassie defeats Shinnok.
Raiden stood in the Sky Temple and surveyed the gathering storm above him. His hand was closed around Shinnok's amulet as he thought over his recent actions. "Raiden, you must stop this!"
The thunder god turned around to see Fujin entering the room with Johnny Cage and Bo Rai Cho close behind him. Raiden's glowing, red eyes narrowed at seeing his former friend standing with Earthrealm's champion and the wind god. He spoke with an even tone to his visitors. "It's already being done, Fujin. I've decided to take care of the threats to Earthrealm, from outside and within."
Fujin looked at Raiden in surprise, not recognizing his long time friend. "Sub-Zero and Scorpion are our allies in Earthrealm's defense. We have no reason to fight them!"
"Those two maybe our allies now, but their clans are assassins-for-hire. How long before they turn against us and side with the next Kahn or fallen god against our realm." Raiden spoke with finality, and his face grim. "We must make sure they'll never turn against us again."
"You have no right to make that call!" Johnny said as he stepped forward. "You're turning them into cyborgs!"
"I will do what it takes to protect my realm," Raiden says, his voice filled with conviction. "Whether that means destroying my enemies or converting them to our cause. Especially to traitors."
Bo Rai Cho didn't look intimidated by the corrupted god. "I would do it again to stop a mad man from conquering other realms. I'm just sorry you became the new Shao Kahn."
Raiden's eyes narrowed at this remark. "I was going to give you the chance to redeem yourself, my old friend, but it would be safer to remove you as an obstacle."
Bo simply took a swig from his flask and pulled out his cane. "I do not need redemption, Raiden, for I'm doing what's right."
"Johnny Cage," Fujin said while pulling out his sword. "You must go to Sonya and her Special Forces. Raiden will likely visit them soon."
Johnny didn't like leaving these two to fight Raiden alone, but he knew he had to warn Sonya and Cass about Raiden. As he began to move, he turned back to look at the pair. "Good luck."
Fujin and Bo Rai Cho nodded before rushing at Raiden. The thunder god walked forward, lightning charging up in his hands before releasing a blast towards his opponents. Johnny didn't see what happened after he rounded a corner, but he heard the sounds of battle behind him. Cage continued to run down the empty corridors until he reached the courtyard where he left his helicopter. He thought he was in the clear when a red laser blasted a pillar next to him. "How you doin' tosser?"
Johnny stopped in his tracks upon seeing a familiar looking Australian walk towards him. "What the hell are you doing here, Kano?"
Kano simply smiled as he played with one of his knives. "Raiden wanted me here in case you decided to run. It looks like he was right to worry. Not that I care usually, but he's offering me Sonya if I take you in alive."
"I won't let you lay a hand on her!" The movie star said as he assumed a defensive stance, though he became curious. "Wait, what's he offering you if you kill me?"
"He'll burn me alive," Kano says before spitting into the ground. "Don't you worry your pretty little head about it, Cage. I'm just gonna rough you up a bit before handing you over."
With the exchange out of the way, the two fighters charged each other, ready to fight. A green aura surrounded Johnny before he flew forward and kicked Kano in the chest. The Australian weathered the kick before lashing out with his knife. Johnny threw his arms up and jumped back with a hiss, noticing a warm feeling trickling down his arms. He gritted his teeth before jumping over Kano, who turned around to face him. He met with several punches to the face, which Kano reciprocated by pulling back and punching Johnny's jaw. Johnny stumbled back, and Kano used the opportunity to spit out some blood in his mouth. "Have you gotten faster, you old bastard?! Because you were much slower last time, we fought!"
"It's just something that I picked up while traveling through Outworld," Johnny said as he wiped the blood from his nose, only to feel something pierce into his shoulder. He looked down to see one of Kano's knives embedded in his shoulder, with Kano having a grin on his face from his success. Deciding to remove the blade later, Johnny rushed forward and slid beneath another of the Australians swings before swinging his fist up. His fist met the assassin's crotch with devastating effect, as Kano felt an explosion of pain from his crushed testicles.
"Oh Bloody Hell! You're gonna pay for that, you cunt!" Kano shouted in pain, grabbing at his now missing family jewels. "You know what, maybe I'll ask Raiden if I can have a go at your daughter after I'm through with Sonya."
Johnny's expression darkened, and a green ball of fire formed in each of his hands. He threw each fireball at Kano, aiming for his face and chest. Kano brought up his arms to guard his face, but he let his chest and arms burn in the process. Johnny rushed forward as green energy surrounded his body and sent a kick into one of Kano's legs. A satisfying crunch was heard by both kombatants, with Kano screaming in pain once again.
Kano lay crumpled in the ground as the rain began to fall, grasping his injured leg. Johnny just looked down at the crippled man before raising a boot above him. He brought it down onto one of his elbows, making his left arm completely useless.
"You'll never lay a hand on Cassie." Johnny Cage says before turning to walk away. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a red light begin to glow from Kano. Johnny spins around and delivers a kick to the side of Kano's head, which destroys the eye laser. With the mercenary finally down for the count, Johnny left him in the mud before getting into the chopper. After making sure everything was working before he pulled away, Johnny noticed how much worse the storm had gotten. He quickly pulled out his phone and tried to call his daughter.
"Fuck," Johnny says after getting her voice mail. "Cassie, you need to put the base on alert now! Raiden's gone crazy, and he's going to attack Special Forces." A bolt of lightning hits his tail rotor. "Shit! I have to go, princess. I love you."
Johnny hangs up as he tries to regain control of his damaged helicopter, but he knows it's in vain. He just hoped he hung up so Cassie didn't hear him crash. The storm refused to let him have any chance at recovering, and the ground seemed to speed toward him. However, a bright light filled the cockpit, and Johnny Cage disappeared from Earthrealm.
XXXX
Cassandra Cage was shocked by the amount of wounded Lin Kuei and Shirai Ryu in the infirmary. "Did Raiden cause all of this damage?"
An injured Frost stood next to her; she was covered in bandages and had an arm in a sling. "Yes, and he used cyborg ninjas to do it."
Cassie was stunned by this news. Not only had Raiden lost his mind, but he also brought back the Cyber Initiative. "We'll fight alongside you to deal with Raiden, but I'm worried about how far he's willing to-"
"Takeda's awake!" Jacqui Briggs said as she ran past, with Cassie and Frost following close behind.
"I'm glad for some good news right now, but has anyone seen Kung Jin?" Cassie asked, worried about the archer's whereabouts.
"He said he had some personal business to take care of," Jacqui noticed her friend's expression darken. "I'm sure whatever he's doing has nothing to do with Raiden."
Jacqui burst into one of the private rooms and saw Takeda sitting up in his bed. A massive smile came onto her face as she rushed forward and threw her arms around him. He reciprocated the hug, and the pair held each other until Cassie cleared her throat. "As great as it is that you're awake, what happened on your mission? And where's your dad?"
Takeda frowned as he recalled the events on Shang Tsung's island. "Raiden wished for us to check it out after portals from Outworld opened on the island. When we arrived, and began searching, only to be attacked by an army of Oni. We fought back, but there were too many, so dad told me to run. I don't remember what happened after I made it to the boat."
Jacqui said nothing as she sat beside Takeda, one of her hands closed gently around his own. Cassie was about to say something when her phone rang, but a loud explosion was heard throughout the base before answering the call. Alarms went off as someone spoke through an intercom. "Intruders are in the base! I repeat Black Dragons are-"
A roaring chainsaw is heard through the intercom, followed by a horrified scream of the unfortunate soldier. Cassie made sure her pistols were loaded while Jacqui pulled on her shotgun gauntlets. "Frost, take Takeda and go guard the wounded. Jacqui and I will deal with whoever's attacking."
Frost looked hesitantly over at the Shirai Ryu in the bed before grabbing him by one of his shoulders. Cassie left the room with her pistols drawn, and Jacqui followed close behind her. The pair ran down several halls before coming across several dead soldiers; while some were Special Forces, others wore the Black Dragon clan's uniform. Before the two can continue, a group of mercenaries enters from a nearby room. The two groups stared at each other before the mercenaries began to raise their weapons.
Cassie opened fire with her pistols and riddled two of her enemies with bullets before ducking behind a support pillar. Jacqui followed suit with her shotgun gauntlets, outright killing one merc while wounding another. The two groups exchanged gunfire, but the young women killed the remaining mercenaries.
As they reloaded their weapons, both girls heard a revving chainsaw further down in another room. Quickly the two rushed in to see a massive man wearing an apron with a leather mask. He held a soldier in the air before ripping a chainsaw through his victim, disemboweling them. Another figure was also present, a woman wearing an old fashioned nursing outfit with grey, rotten skin and a bag over her head. She held a rusty bone saw in one of her hands, which she slid across another soldier's throat, before letting his body slump to the ground.
Cassie rushed forward and slammed into the chainsaw wielder, and took him down to the ground. She punched him twice in the face, but that did little to faze him as he grabbed Cassie and threw her off him. Cassie drew her pistols before firing several shots into his chest, but the brute barely noticed the damage. He grabbed his chainsaw and swung it towards Cassie, who rolled to avoid the bloody weapon. Seeing an opening as he tried to steady himself from his attack, Cassie shot one of his knees in hopes of disabling him, and it only pissed him off. "What does it take to kill this guy?!"
"I'm wondering the same thing!" Jacqui says as she sends more shots into the Nurse's body. The monster was thrown back by each blast, but she teleported right up to Jacqui and swung her bone saw. Jacqui jumped back to avoid the damage, but the blade still sliced one of her arms and caused blood to flow from the wound. Before the Nurse could attack again, an arrow flew through the air and pierced her back. The Nurse turned to face her new attacker and received two more shots to her face, courtesy of the Shao Lin that entered the room.
"Do you guys need some help?" Kung Jin asked before sending another arrow into the floating medical worker. She appeared in front of him with her saw raised, only to receive a punch. Jacqui ran over to help Cassie against the chainsaw wielder. However, she stopped in her tracks as a bladed hat flew through the air and sliced across the brute's chest. The cap bounced back into the hand of its owner, and a familiar wraith entered the room.
"I do believe they need assistance, cousin." Kung Lao says as he enters the room. The former Shao Lin nod to each other before Kung Lao rushes the brute. "Let's face this foe together, Cage."
The revenant and the sergeant rushed towards their opponent before each kicked his abdomen. Kung Lao pulled off his hat before bringing it down on his opponent's wrists, severing it from his body. Cassie withdrew a nightstick, smashed Leatherface's jaw, and used her free hand to pull out a pistol. She then shot him several times in the face, which seemed to do the trick as the psycho collapsed. Before they could congratulate themselves, Kung Lao noticed one of Leatherface's eyes open and proceeded to chop the man's head off. The two watched as the body crumbled into dust, confirming his death.
A blast goes off behind them as Jacqui fires both of her gauntlets into the Nurses head. The nearly headless and arrow-riddled corpse slumped to the ground and crumbled into dust as well. Cassie holstered her weapons before walking over to Kung Jin. "What are you doing with a revenant, Jin?"
"I met him after Shinnok's defeat," the archer said as he dropped some arrows into his quiver. "He was lost in the Netherrealm when I found him. I helped him fight against the corruption within him, and Kung Lao now fights for Earthrealm."
"Are you sure we can trust him?" Jacqui asked as she joined her friend before reloading her gauntlets.
"I trust him with my life." Kung Jin said, conviction evident in his voice.
"I am on your side, young ones," Kung Lao said as he walked towards the group. "Especially now that we share a common enemy."
Cassie and Jacqui shared an uncertain look, but they knew the wraith was right. Before they could say anything else, many explosions can be heard throughout the base, getting closer to the group. A bright light encompasses the group before they're killed by the now collapsing military base.
XXXX
"GET OVER HERE!" Hanzo Hasashi shouted as he yanked a mercenary forward with his rope spear, cutting their head off as they flew past him. "I think that's the last of them, Sub-Zero."
Kuai Liang shoved a frozen mercenary and allowed his body to shatter on the ground before taking into account the carnage inflicted upon their enemies. The soldiers and clanmates, those who weren't injured, did excellent work. "I believe you are right, Master Hasashi, but we need to keep moving. We will have no idea if the rest of the base is clear."
Hasashi grimaced as he cleaned off the blade of his katana. "Then we must hurry before-"
A group of armored Black Dragon mercenaries charged into the room and held the heroes at gunpoint. As they prepared to fight off these new opponents, a horrifically burned man entered the room, with clawed gloves covering each hand.
"Now, now, little ninjas." He spoke with a deep, raspy voice. "I think you've had your fun, but Lord Raiden wants you and your fellow ninjas brought before him. And I'm not one to disappoint my new master."
"We will never give in to that mad man!" Sub-Zero says before summoning an ice sword.
"Doesn't matter to me either way. I'm just glad to have some fun before giving you to Raiden." The burned man raised one of his metal claws to his opponents, "Take care of them, Spirit."
An undead woman appeared in front of Hanzo, her body covered in bandages and broken glass, before swinging her katana at the former revenant. He met her blade with his own before slicing her across the chest. Not even noticing the blow, she kicked Hanzo in the chest, only for her attack to be blocked. Rather than trying to slice her again, Hanzo summoned hellfire before slamming his fist into the Spirit's abdomen. Launching her body into a nearby wall and left her covered in burns.
Sub-Zero swung an ice sword at his opponent, only to be blocked by a clawed hand. Freddy Krueger held the icy weapon in his grasp before turning one of his clawed hands towards Sub-Zero, slashing across his chest. As he stumbled back, Freddy swung both of his hands in a downward strike, but the Lin Kuei grandmaster sent an ice ball into his chest, freezing the monster solid. Before he could shatter Freddy, however, the ice explodes outward as the nightmare summons hellfire. "I've got more than a few tricks, little ninja. Now let's see what you fear."
Only for the revenant to be pulled back by Hanzo. "Take care of the flying one, Sub-Zero!"
Kuai Liang nodded before blocking a blow for the enraged spirit who screeched at her opponent. He dodged another attack before the spirit flew into the air and brought her katana down. Seeing an opening, Sub-Zero summoned an ice ball and froze her solid, where she crashed into the ground in a shattered heap. When he turned around to help Hanzo, he saw the ninja had the clawed man on his knees. "I'll see you fools real soon."
Hanzo cut his head off and let the body slump to the floor, where he crumbled into dust. The pair looked over their forces, happy to see they were still standing with a few injuries.
"We need to-," Hanzo says before being launched by an explosion in a nearby room. The ninjas and soldiers lay across the room as fire and smoke fill the room, only for a bright light to engulf them.
XXXX
General Sonya Blade walked towards a tent, followed by Jax and a squad of soldiers. "Are you sure we can trust him?"
"I wouldn't trust that Texan son of a bitch as far as I can throw him," Jax says as he lights a cigar. "But we'll need allies when Raiden comes after us."
Sonya didn't want to believe what she heard about the thunder god, but the evidence was undeniable. Raiden had gone insane and was willing to destroy his former allies to "secure" Earthrealm. Now one of Kotal Khan's enforcers was here to talk, not that she had much to say to that backstabbing asshole. She opened a tent flap to see Erron Black handcuffed behind a table, and he looked very relaxed.
Sonya pulled a chair out on the opposite end before she began to question the mercenary. "What the hell does your emperor want, Erron?"
"Kotal wants an alliance with Earthrealm," Erron says as he sits up to give the General full attention. "Raiden's a threat to both Earthrealm and Outworld, and we need to stand against him."
"Your Emperor must be desperate to come to us after what he betrayed my daughter and her team," Sonya said before her usual glare intensified. "And how do I know he won't try to invade Earthrealm after Raiden is defeated?"
"Kotal Kahn wishes for peace between our realms and an end to the constant fighting," Erron speaks to Sonya with conviction. "Don't your leaders in Earthrealm wish for that too?"
'I'm going to regret this,' Sonya thought to herself. "Release him, and you can let Kotal Kahn know he'll have his alliance."
An alarm blares throughout the camp after Sonya gives her command.
"Why is the command center going into lockdown?" The general says into her radio, only to receive static in return. "Does anyone read me, over?"
"They're not answering, shit!" Jax curses, "Why the hell can't they respond?"
A group of helicopters approaches the base soon after and strafe the military encampment before releasing mercenaries to hunt down the remaining soldiers.
XXX
Sonya Blade coughed as she regained consciousness; her vision allowed her to see the damage caused. Tents burned with destroyed vehicles lying around, and bodies lay amongst the carnage. She can hear gunfire as the ringing in her ears subsides before she tries to stand just as a pair of mercenaries find her. They raise their rifles towards her and force her to take cover. Sonya hissed in pain as she collapsed behind a destroyed humvee before she noticed blood flowing from her leg and side. She tried to ignore it and keep going, but both the bleeding and the missile barrage earlier made this impossible. A mercenary rounds the corner with his weapon raised, ready to put down the feared general, and a single gunshot follows.
XXX
Bo Rai Cho lay on the ground unconscious as Fujin kept his futile battle with Raiden going for as long as he could. He wasn't sure if Johnny Cage was able to escape, but he held out hope. However, hope wasn't going to help him against Raiden as the fallen god blasted him with more lightning.
"You could have joined me, Fujin," Raiden spoke with a tone of disappointment. "Now, you must be dealt with like all who threaten Earthrealms security."
"I would never join you in this insanity!" Fujin said in defiance. "Bo is right. No realm deserves subjugation, especially at the hands of a tyrant!"
Raiden summoned forth more energy from Shinnok's amulet to destroy the wind god when a pair of bright lights appeared behind his opponents. Bo Rai Cho's unconscious form was pulled through one portal, while another opened behind Fujin. The wind god considered continuing his fight with Raiden when a voice spoke out to him, "Leave Fujin, you must bide your time for now."
Recognizing the voice, Fujin turned around and jumped through the portal. Seeing both entrances close after being entered, Raiden felt a surge of anger within him. "You had no right to get involved, Cetrion!"
"I was just allowing them a chance to live another day, Raiden." The Elder God said as she entered the room. "I'm not getting involved directly in your conflict, for now."
"Those two were mine to deal with," Raiden said as energy rushed to his hands. "And do not think that I'll forget this slight. Even Elder Gods can suffer fates worse than death."
"Save your threats, and the Elder Gods agreed we would not get involved in this conflict on Earthrealm." Her eyes narrowed, "No matter how terrible things may become for the mortals under your 'protection.''."
"So, the Elder Gods have decided to sit back and see how things work out? How typical," Raiden spat. "No matter what may occur, you refuse to get off your thrones and help defend the innocent, not even when one of your own decides to destroy the realms and kill you. How many died because of your inaction?"
"Too many to count," Cetrion said with regret in her voice. "Luckily, I will no longer sit aside and watch the carnage unfold."
"The others will not be pleased with your actions," Raiden spoke with a smug tone. "They will probably try to stop you."
"They will try, but I plan to make your plans much more difficult before then," Cetrion said before turning to leave the room.
"I will find and kill them," Raiden said as a hellish fury filled his voice. "I will find them!"
