Chapter 3

Vengeance Is Mine

"Speech""

'Thoughts'

Location /Date / Time Change

Hours past as the sun had begun to set in Outworld. Toxik, D'vorah, and Kotal Kahn walked out of the palace as the Earthrealmers conversed over a strange device. Cassie put the machine away and stared at the group before turning around at the sound of the Emperor. "You have new information from Earthrealm?"

"Kano talked." Cassie answered walking towards the trio. "Gave us everything he had on Mileena. She does have the amulet, but also a lot of protection."

Kotal raised his hand to his chin in thought. "We must strike immediately."

"Perhaps a two-prong strategy." D'vorah suggested. "The army will distract Mileena while This One and Toxik sneak behind and retrieve the amulet."

"Not alone. This One's coming along." Cassie butted in.

D'vorah glanced over to Toxik who just shrugged his shoulders as if to say 'I don't mind if she comes along'. "Stealth will be most important..." She told the human.

"Did you think I was joking?" The blonde asked back.

"You will aid the main force-"

"D'vorah." Kotal Kahn interrupted her. "We shall grant their request, and I will finally be rid of Mileena." The Kytin reluctantly nodded before Kotal turn to gather his army.

The Next Day

Kuatan Jungle, Rebel Camp

The last of the Tarkatans left the camp to fight the army, leaving only empty tents. Toxik hopped along their tops as Cassie and D'vorah ran along the ground. The two women huddled behind some barrels as Toxik triggered his invisibility and jumped on to the main tent.

He moved his arm and Xiuhcoatl became visible before it slithered down the tent flap. The females moved in as Rain walked out, the Earthrealmer pulling a gun on him. Toxik crawled over to the ledge, ready to drop down if needed, as the Edenian turned to D'vorah. "Care to surrender, traitor?"

"You dare speak of treason?" D'vorah asked. "This One knows you desire the throne. Why serve Mileena?"

"I advise her." Rain replied. "The stealing of the amulet was my idea. Bit by bit, it kills her each use."

"As both sides diminish, you fill the void." The Kytin realized.

"That is correct." The Edenian chuckled. Toxik glanced over and saw Tanya sneaking up behind Cassie. Thinking quickly, he jumped off the edge and slammed into the pyromancer. Cassie turned around and raced over as Rain slammed his knee into D'vorah. Tanya flipped to the ground and threw Toxik over, making him land on his feet.

Cassie threw a punch from behind and Tanya ducked before raising a leg overhead and kicking the blonde in the face. The Edenian then spread her arms and blasted both of them with fire. Toxik pulled out a pair of knives and slashed the fireball in half. He looked up and found Tanya in front if him before a double kick struck his chest.

Toxik flew into a tree and crashed into the trunk before Cassie zoomed forward and kicked Tanya. She then threw a quick punch kick combo that dazed the pyromancer before firing off her pistols. Tanya pushed the left one aside before kicking Cassie in the stomach. She jumped and kicked Cassie back before the Edenian cartwheeled forward. Cassie kicked Tanya in the stomach and sent her to the ground.

Tanya rolled out of the way of a gun shot before standing up. The rebel pulled her weapons out and threw them before successfully cartwheeling and grabbing the blondes torso and slammed her down. Tanya climbed over and began punching Cassie in the head only for a long tongue to lash out and wrapped around her neck. Toxik pulled his head back and Tanya flew at him, letting him hit a knee strike on her gut.

She stumbled back before Cassie performed a hook kick. Toxik delivered a spinning back fist before clawing the girls stomach, forcing her back. Both Cassie and Toxik roared as they threw a punch at the same time. Tanya crumbled to the ground and fell face first into the dirt. "Thanks for that." She said to Toxik.

He nodded in reply as Rain slid next to Tanya and D'vorah walked over, stingers at the ready. "I know you said they aren't your friends, but you're not killing them."

"She's right, that's not what we came here for." Toxik added. Annoyed, D'vorah pulled her stingers back in as Xiuhcoatl slithered back to the group. "It's in here." The three entered the tent and found a chest heavily locked. Toxik leaned down and pulled out two small knives before placing them in the keyhole.

"Huh, you got some serious skills." Cassie said as the hybrid worked on the lock. "How'd a guy like you end up in Outworld?"

"Ask his parents when you meet them in death." All three turned around to see Mileena standing at the tent's entrance.

Toxik stood up and handed the knives to D'vorah. "Work on the lock. She's mine." He growled out as he shoot a ball of acid at her. Mileena wiped the acid from her eyes as Toxik walked out of the tent. "I knew you couldn't stay away from the amulet."

"You took my throne. Now you wish to steal my only means to reclaim it?" She asked.

"You are not worthy of either of them." Toxik stated.

"Who are you to judge!?" Mileena shouted back. "You weren't even meant to exist! You should have died with your pathetic parents in Earthrealm!"

Growling in anger, Toxik threw a punch and then a kick forcing her back. "No guards for you to hide behind this time. Now, you pay for everything you've done!" He charged forward and she vanished from sight before appearing behind and kicking him. Toxik turned around and slashed at her, tearing off the leather on her arm. He then grabbed her head and slammed it into his knee.

She reached around and pulled out her sai before stabbing his leg, drawing blood. Toxik bit his lip before punching her gut and drawing a knife. He charged and swung his blade only for it to be caught in the tri-blade and twisted out of his hand before stabbed into his hand. The fallen empress then delivered a series of kick that forced Toxik to the ground.

Mileena raised her leg and brought it down over his head, only to have it grabbed by his hand. He punched upwards into her knee ditch, making her cry in pain. Standing up, Toxik jumped over her ball attack only for her to jump up from behind and send him to the ground. She started clawing into her back and drawing blood before the bracelet spat fire in her face. Coughing blood Toxik pushed himself up, barely able to stand.

Smirking under her mask, Mileena reached around and threw a sai at him. Xiuhcoatl shot out and caught it before spinning around her host and throwing it back at her. It hit her stomach and adrenaline surged through him before Toxik raced forward and kicked it further in. The longest tip popped out her back before Toxik swung his arms. An 'x' of acid shot out and burned her arms before he slammed an elbow into chest before cracking her face with a hammer-fist.

Toxik delivered a spinning back-fist before pulling Xiuhcoatl off his wrist. It turned it its club form and swung it at her head, hitting square. He felt the crack of her skull before pulling back and flipping it over. The tail of the serpent stiffened into a spearhead and he stabbed it into her gut, the tip coming out of the back.

The assassin went around and pulled his charm out before kicking her hard enough to crack her spine, sending her to the ground. "Your rebellion is done." He walked over to the downed hybrid and had his living weapon tie the girl up. Panting in exhaustion, he dropped to the ground and looked up as the two females walked over, the amulet in Cassie's hands.

"You feeling okay?" She asked, leaning down. "We heard everything you two said."

"I don't need your pity." He bluntly replied.

She chuckled before sitting down next to him. "Bet it felt good kicking her ass." Cassie said. "We have a word for that in Earthrealm. It's called 'cathartic'." He smiled at her as Kotal Kahn and the others walked into view.

Kotal Kahn's War Tent

Kotal turned and sat down in his makeshift throne as Mileena made no effort to escape her ropes. "Enough of your prattle. Finish me, so I might join my father."

The Kahn looked down at her and shook his head. "You do not deserve an Emperor's hand in death. There is one here who more than deserves it." He turned to Toxik on his left and nodded.

Bowing in thanks, Toxik walked forward and pulled out a knife. Mileena spat in his face and he wiped it away, showing no emotion. "For my mother..." He swung his blade and sliced her torso, spilling her organs as she cried in pain. "For my father..." He flipped the grip and swung again, this time against her neck. He missed her jugular as planned but still turned her screams into gargles.

"For the life you stole..." Xiuhcoatl slithered off his wrist and entered her stomach wound. He gripped Mileena's face and forced her to stare into his eyes. "For myself!" Toxik pushed her back as Xiuhcoatl forced itself out of her neck wound, her black heart in mouth. The former empress watched as the snake swallowed her heart whole before slithering back to its owner.

Mileena finally fell over, the life leaving her eyes forever.

"Well... that was disturbing." Cassie said before walking forward. "With your blessing, we're going to return to Earthrealm. Put Shinnok's amulet back where it needs to be." Kotal said nothing before clenching his fist. Blue fire surrounded it before the same energy encircled the four humans, shocking both them and Toxik. "The hell are you doing?"

The emperor stood up and walked over to them. "Earthrealm cannot trusted with the amulets protection. It shall remain with me." He reached Cassie and took the golden trinket from her.

Jin stared at him in anger. "The Reiko Accords clearly state that-"

"The Accords are no longer my concern." The Kahn interrupted. "But you may prove useful for when Raiden comes for this. Toxik, take them away." The hybrid did nothing as the emperor turned to him.

"Do it, or have you turned soft after consorting with this woman?" He turned back to her and lowered his head before raising his hand. The guards dragged the four away and Toxik followed them, leaving only Kotal and D'vorah behind.

Dead Sea

Prisoner Ship

Toxik walked on the deck of the ship fruit in his bucket. Xiuhcoatl looked at him and licked his check, making him look down. "We can't let them go." He said to the weapon. "Kotal would never forgive me for losing another set of prisoners. We just have bare with it."

His weapon let out a puff of fire that took the shape of Cassie's head. "No, no, no. I know how she makes me feel and I know Zaterrans are matriartical, but my loyalty is to Outworld. Besides, she would never be interested in someone like me." He reached for the hatch to open it when a voice stopped him.

"At least we knew our families. That's more than we can say for Toxik." Cassie said, catching Toxik and he assumed the others off guard. "Mileena killed his when our parents were fighting Shao Kahn. Then someone took him in and brought him over here. We all made a choice, but he never had a chance at a normal life."

Shaking his head, he opened the hatch and walked down the stairs. "Away from the bars, now." He requested. They nodded and stepped back before he walked down the hall. "Just so you know, I'm sorry this happened." Toxik said, tossing a fruit to Jin.

"Sure you are." The archer huffed.

"I mean it." He replied before tossing one to Cassie. "I never knew Kotal planned to do this." He tossed one to Jacqui. "I only hope this doesn't devolve into-" He reached the cell holding Takeda to find his hand placed on his temple. "What are you-"

A sharp pain filled his head as he gripped it. The last thing he saw was the floor of the ship before hitting it.

Toxik groaned as he grabbed his throbbing head. "Anyone know who was driving that cart that-" His eyes snapped open before looking over to see a babbling brook and a stone statue. Footsteps caught his attention before he rolled into a bush. He peered out and saw two people walking into view.

They said something before he jumped out, Xiuhcoatl sliding down his hand as he drew a knife from his belt. He looked up and saw Jacqui and Jin prepared for fight. "Where am I!?" He demanded, knife and sword in hand.

"Easy, easy." Cassie said, stepping forward. "I know you have questions."

"You're damn right I do!" He shouted. "Where am I!? How did I get here!? How did you escape!? Why did you bring me here!?"

"You're in the Kuatan Jungle. We brought you here. Takeda overloaded your senses before we grabbed your keys. D'vorah stole the amulet before killing the guards. We brought you along so you could negotiate with Kotal Kahn." The blonde answered in order.

"She what!?" Toxik asked back. "Why would she betray the Kahn? It makes no sense."

"That's what we want to find." She replied. "And we could really use your help. If anyone knows Outworld, it would be you. What do you say?" Before Toxik could respond, a vibration caught the blondes attention and she answered the device in her hand. "Sorry, Kenshi. She's heading to the southwest."

"How is your team?" The device spoke, shocking the hybrid.

"We're all here." Takeda said to the comms. "No one is tailing us, though we did pick up one reluctant party member."

"Any clue where D'vorah was headed?" The man on the other side of the machine asked.

"We think she's headed for the Sea of Blood." Takeda replied.

"Damn." A new man said, catching Jacqui's attention. "She's coming here, to Quan Chi. There's a secret portal near the Sea of Blood. Quan Chi built it when were trying to invade Outworld."

Jacqui walked over and started talking to it. "How did you do that?" Toxik asked, confusing Cassie. "How did you get two people inside that tiny device?"

"Uh..." Cassie mumbled unsure of what to say. Fortunately the call ended and Jacqui motioned for her to come over. "I'll tell you some other time." She walked over to the group and Toxik reluctantly followed her. "So we keep following her. And if we find her, we kick her ass and take the amulet back."

"Hold on. You four aren't going anywhere." Toxik spoke up. "I'm taking you back to the Kahn now."

"Don't you get it?" Jacqui asked. "If Quan Chi gets hold of the Amulet, he could do untold damage to both realms. And I think Kotal would like traitor more than four humans."

"We're going after her." Cassie said. "You're more than welcomed to join us, or you can go back to Kotal Kahn and explain how you lost D'vorah, the amulet and the prisoners. Your choice."

The four headed towards the southwest, leaving the hybrid alone. The stream under his feet babbled for a bit before he sheathed his knife. "Damn it." He huffed before walking after the four.

Hours Later

Makeba Cliffs

The five reached the edge of a cliff, overlooking a temple surrounded by a stone wall. A strange noise caught Toxik's attention before he spun and threw a knife at Cassie. "Dude, chill. It's just the transmitter." She said before pulling out the device. "Yes, General. We haven't caught up with D'vorah. We had her tracked to the Makeba Cliffs but then her trail went cold."

Toxik crouched to the ground and scooped up some dirt before sniffing it. "She was here. Kytin pheromones don't fade away so easily."

"Hang on." Jacqui started typing into the device on her wrist before a beam of light scanned the dirt. "If I can retool the smart-comm to track them, then we might be able to find her."

"How long will that take, including finding her?" The woman asked.

"Two hours, maybe more?" Cassie replied.

"We don't have two hours. We need to find her now." The general replied. A sigh was heard a few seconds later before the woman spoke again. "Cassie, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but we don't have time. Bring your team and your friend back here now. We need to re-group and re-deploy."

"Yes, ma'am." Cassie reluctantly replied before putting the tablet away.

"What now?" Jin asked.

"There's a portal not far from here." Toxik said. "It should bring us to Earthrealm."

"Should?" Takeda asked.

"I've never used it before." The hybrid replied. "But if you want to go home, it's your best bet."

"Then let's get going." Cassie said stepping between the two. "So which way is this portal?"

"It should be just in there. But we need to be careful." Toxik said, pointing at the temple. "Ever since that one mission a few years ago, they don't really like me."

"Why? Did you kill someone here?" Jacqui asked.

"Several, actually." The hybrid replied instantly. "But they were more upset about me braking some sacred drum or something. Haven't let me back in since." He walked down the cliff before the others followed him.

"Can we really trust him?" Jin asked. "For all we know, he could turn on us and just kill us."

"If he hasn't done it by now, he's not going to." Cassie said. "Besides, he did save Jacqui from that creature in the desert.

"He can also hear you." Toxik said as he turned around. "Now be quite. We're here, and don't want them to know that." He jumped onto the wall and latched onto the stone wall before climbing up. Toxik then lowered his bracelet which expanded in length before the four grabbed on to it and he pulled them up.

They reached the top and found him panting in exhaustion. "Just... just give me a minute." The hybrid said before standing up. "Now follow me." He ordered before they snuck along the wall. They entered the main temple and hid from a guard before they found the main temple room. "It's here."

The four humans stared at the massive portal swirling in the center of the room. "Guess I should say this now. Welcome to earth." Cassie chuckled before the group walked through the portal. In an instant, the five found themselves surrounded by metal and hardened stone. People were laid on the ground including a pale one without a head, much to the humans shock. "Mom!" Cassie and the others raced towards them and Toxik went to help a ninja in yellow. "Where's Dad?"

"Shinnok..." The older woman mumbled before passing out.

"Mom, mom, where did they go?" Cassie asked.

"Your father..." The yellow ninja mumbled as Toxik helped him up. "Shinnok's prisoner... at the Sky Temple..."

"Then Earthrealm is lost." Toxik said, standing up.

"Not yet it's not." Cassie said before turning to some nearby soldiers. "You two, take them and start healing them. The five of us are going after old Shin-bones."

"Shin bones?" The hybrid asked in confusion.

"Forget it." She replied. "You're here now. Might as well help."

Cassie and the other three raced off in a direction, leaving Toxik behind. Xiuhcoatl slithered onto his shoulder and motioned to the running group. "Damn your logic." Toxik huffed before running after the other four. He jumped into the same square hole they did before turning to Cassie. "So how do we get there?"

"Easy." She chuckled before walking through another door. "You might want to sit down." Toxik raised an eyebrow before a series of flicks confused him. A whiring noise caught his attention before the square started shaking, knocking him to the ground. He crawled back to the hole only to find it raising above the ground.

"First time in a helicopter?" Takeda asked, making the hybrid flip over.

"Hell copper?" He asked back before the machine lurched forward. Toxik slid along the metal floor before crashing into a wall.

"Having fun there?" Cassie asked from the other side of the wall.

"I hate you." He mumbled as the machine flew through the air.

I image that Earthrealm technology would be extremely bizarre to Toxik, having never seen it before. As for the chapter itself, a lot happened. Emotions of all kind were flying around and Toxik has entered his birth world for the first time. Probably not under the circumstances he predicted or even wanted. Also, a bit of world building in outworld.

What did you guys think of it? See ya next time.

Beta read by General Feng Xiang.