Chapter 4
Saving the World
"Speech""
'Thoughts'
Location /Date / Time Change
The five flew through the air as the four Earthrealmers controlled the machine. "We land in fifteen minutes." Cassie reported. "We'll enter the Sky Temple from the terrestrial entrance."
"No, we should approach on foot." Toxik said, making the girl shake her head. "And why not just take this... helicopter all the way there?"
"It exists in a different quantum realm." Kung Jin replied. "Just slightly outside the phase of our reality. It can't be reached by conventional means." The archer noticed that the hybrid was looking extremely confused by his words.
Takeda let out a sigh that caught the attention of everyone. "It's just us. No one's coming to help; no back up, no cavalry. Either we pull this off or-"
"We WILL get this done." Cassie spoke up.
Toxik tapped her shoulder before pointing ahead, making everyone follow his finger. The sky had begun turning a violent red as it approach the machine. "What in the name of the Elder Gods is that?!" Jin asked, standing up.
"Don't know, but it's headed straight for us." Takeda said before the helicopter started shaking.
"Buckle up, people! I gotta put her down." Jacqui said before the copter dived to the ground. A clearing opened underneath them and the girl landed it before the counsel just started sparking and shut off. The five exited the 'bird' as Cassie called it before Jacqui pulled out a device. "The Sky Temple is about fifteen clicks that way." The black girl said, pointing towards where the temple is said to be.
Toxik jumped on top of the machine before helping Cassie and Jin up. They walked towards the edge of the wing as he sniffed the air. "Something evil is in the air." He said. "Its spreading like a virus."
Sparks shot off near Cassie as she pulled her hand back. "Fuck me!" She cursed before turning to the others. "We're grounded. That shockwave fried the leads."
"Then we hoof it." Jacqui said. "We're low on time as it is."
The other three jumped down and they raced towards the temple only for a portal to open up before them. "Oh, no." Toxik mumbled before Kotal Kahn and his army walked through.
"Are they here for you?" Takeda asked the other Outworlder.
"They're here for the amulet." Toxik replied. "My 'rescue' is low on their list."
"Could you talk to them? Explain everything to Kotal Kahn?" Cassie asked.
"BRING THEM TO ME!" Kotal shouted, pointing his club sword at the five.
The army charged forward and the group turned before running into the woods. "I'll see what I can do." Toxik said before triggering his invisibility. He jumped away from the group and began climbing the tree before turning to see the other four ran deeper into the woods.
The Outworld army marched through the woods, speaking so softly that Toxik couldn't hear them. Explosions began ripping through the trees and scattered the army as trunks fell the ground. A smell caught his attention and he turned to see his master climbing up a tree. He jumped at Jacqui only for Toxik to jump and cut him off, sending both to the ground.
Reptile hissed before his student became visible. "Toxik, you are unharmed."
"Master, please listen." Toxik spoke. "Everything has changed. D'vorah-"
"Has stolen the Amulet to give back to Raiden." Reptile interrupted. "And it seems she got to you as well. Kotal was right; you did free them."
"The one known as Takeda used his power to overload my senses." The student replied. "I had no idea D'vorah had done anything until I awoke in the Kuantan Jungle."
"And yet you still sided with them!?" His master interrupted. "I knew I should have killed them at the docks. It seems you are in need of another discipline lesson, my student." He charged forward and swung his claws, forcing his student to block. Xiuhcoatl unfurled into his and Toxik swung, wrapping around Reptile's leg and pulled.
Reptile stumbled to the ground before rolling on the snowy ground to avoid the stab from his students sword. He stood up and triggered his acid slide, regaining his ground. The two started trading punches and blocks before Toxik swung his claws, digging into his masters leg.
Reptile growled in anger before spraying acid in Toxik's face before grabbing and twisting his jaws in opposite directions, cracking them. His student shouts in pain before Reptile dug his thumbs into Toxiks eyes and pressed in, blinding him before slamming his head down onto the ground.
Toxik wasted no time and swung his legs. They wrapped around his teachers legs and he pushed them to the ground, his master falling after them. Toxik swung his fist and punched his masters face before the older lizard stood up. Toxik swung a high kick that Reptile blocked, but was unable to stop the second kick from hitting his chest.
Wasting no time, both pulled their hands back as both summoned a ball of acid. The two fired their acid balls point blank to the others chests and they fell to the ground. Both groaned in pain as Toxik pushed himself up. "You were holding back at the docks, weren't you?" Toxik asked before standing up.
"I knew the Earthrealmers wouldn't drag along a corpse." Reptile replied doing the same. "Tell me, why did they bring you along?"
"They heard what you said at the docks and informed me." Toxik replied standing up. "They thought I could help track her down and bring D'vorah back to the Emperor for judgement. What they didn't plan on is that D'vorah would be working with Quan Chi to release Shinnok. They needed help and I had no other options."
"So the bug has betrayed us..." Reptile mumbled before looking up at the sky. "And Earthrealm has been lost."
"Not yet, it isn't." His student replied, confusing the full Zaterran. "You spoke of the one called Johnny Cage and the bizarre green power he used against Shinnok. Well, his daughter is fighting with us right now. If there's even a chance she has that power as well, we can win this."
Reptile walked forward and stared at his 'son'. "Kotal won't budge on a chance. You know this."
"Maybe not. But if we don't stop him here, there's nothing to stop Shinnok from taking Outworld as well." Toxik said.
"Then this is where we part ways." Reptile said, confusing his student. "I cannot fight against the Emperor, but I have faith in you. May you be victorious in your plan."
The two gripped each others forearms and nodded. "If I fail, I will see you in the Black Mists of Zaterra." Toxik declared.
"I will join you there proudly, my son." Reptile said before the two let go. Toxik ran back into the fight as Reptile watched. "He found his partner. I suppose it's time I must find mine..." The pure blood said before walking into the woods, turning invisible.
Toxik jumped over a prone Torr before seeing Kotal Kahn fling Takeda back towards Jacqui. "Emperor, please!" Toxik shouted as he raced between the two before bowing to the Kahn. "I humbly ask that you listen to them! What they have to say is vital to the survival of every realm!"
Kotal Kahn stared at him as the soldiers stopped fighting. "What could they possibly say that justifies kidnapping-"
"Shinnok has been freed!" Jacqui interrupted. "He's at Raiden's sky temple. He's already infected Earthrealm's life force."
She motioned upward at the sky and the Emperor looked up. "The heaven's boil..."
"D'vorah was never meant to bring the amulet to Raiden." Toxik added. "She was meant to bring the Amulet to Quan Chi so he could release Shinnok. I was brought along to track her down and stop her. Forgive me, we failed."
"Then Earthrealm is lost to all!" Kotal Kahn said in horror.
"Not if we work together." Jacqui said.
"I will appease Shinnok..." Kotal mumbled, reaching for his war club. "Bring him your heads, gain time to bolster Outworld's defenses. Toxik, stand beside me and kill them."
The emperor walked past his assassin and swung his club, trying to take off the two's heads. Toxik stood up and saw the fighting around him resume before Cassie shared a glance. "Don't do this..." She begged before going back to a fight.
Xiuhcoatl looked up at her own and he pet her before she returned to his wrist. "I'm sorry..." He whispered before drawing a knife and turned around. Running forward he jumped and brought it down on Kotal's back.
The three were shocked at the action as the two humans shared a glance. "Didn't see that coming." Takeda mumbled before Ferra/Torr tackled both of them away.
Kotal Kahn reached around and pulled the knife out before staring at Toxik. "Treachery, just like D'vorah." He said throwing the blade to the ground. "You would cross your master and emperor?"
"Shinnok doesn't care what you bring him." Toxik said. "Whatever time you gain won't be enough to save Outworld."
"Maybe not with their heads, but with one of my own people." He replied before charging Toxik.
The hybrid jumped over and landed before turning around. "Kotal Kahn, please. There may yet be another-"
"Not another word." The emperor cut him off. "My worst fears are true. Your Zaterran biology for that woman has clouded your judgement. You will speak you last, begging for my mercy." He swung his club and hit Toxik in the shoulder before the hybrid pushed it out.
He pulled knives out of his vest and threw them at Kotal. He blocked with his club but one still hit his skin as Toxik charged him. The hybrid jumped and latched onto his emperors club before forcing it down. Kotal merely head butted Toxik and forced him back before swinging again. Holding his hand high, Kotal summoned a beam of sunlight at his assassin blasting him into a tree.
Shaking his head, Toxik rolled out of the way of another club swing before he charged the emperor. His bracelet slithered into his hand and hardened into a sword before he swung it. The snake blade sliced along the thigh and Kotal bit his lip before kicking his assassin back. Toxik rolled back up and swung his sword, blocking another club strike before staring at his Emperor.
Kotal was far stronger than Toxik and the emperor pushed back before forcing Toxik to his knees. Toxik pushed as hard as he could before Kotal punched Toxik in the face. Dazed, his grip loosened and Kotal twisted the charm out of his hand. A beam of sun hit him from above before Toxik was stabbed through the throat by Kotal's knife. The emperor then twisted it and snapped his neck before pulling out.
Kotal then pulled back before charging and slammed his knee into the hybrids face and Toxik fell to the ground in defeat. Kotal Kahn grabbed his foot and dragged him forward to the circle of his soldiers before tossing Toxik into it. The hybrid looked up to see the Earthrealmers at the center. "I tired." He groaned out before standing.
Cassie tried to shoot only to hear the empty click of her gun. Ferra/Torr tossed Takeda to them before he stood up. "Don't know about anyone else, but I'm living the dream." Jacqui said.
"What kind of dreams do you have?" Toxik asked.
"Chattel... You will die tonight." Kotal said before turning to his army. "Nitah!"
The circle started closing in as Ferra/Torr charged. A sudden ball of ice hit the symbiote and froze them, catching everyone off guard. Another hit a soldier and then a second. Everyone turned to see blue clad warriors charge the Outworlders as the four raced to the one without a mask.
Toxik followed them as they bowed to the man. "You stood together against formidable odds. Lesser warriors would not have faired well."
"Thank you, Grandmaster." Cassie said.
"I will say here to push Kotal Kahn back to Outworld." The Grandmaster continued. "Proceed to the Sky Temple. Earthrealm's fate is in the hands of you and your new ally." He walked past them and Toxik stared at the fight with his home people.
"You sure about this?" Cassie asked. "We might not make it back."
"I can't return to Kotal's side or he'll kill me on the spot." Toxik replied. "Either we succeed and I manage to win back some of his trust, or we fail and die a painful death. What do I have to lose?" She nodded and the five ran out of the woods.
Sky Temple
The five snuck along the side of the temple as people on the other side of the wall spoke. "Lord Shinnok is nearly finished. The Jinsei's corruption will soon be irreversible." Toxik flared in anger at the sound of D'vorah's voice.
"The invasion will then begin." A Revenant based on her smell replied. "Raiden and his allies will offer little resistance." Kung Jin almost fell off the ledge when Cassie caught him.
"Once the realm falls, our path to victory will be clear." Another Revenant said. "Inform Lord Shinnok that both the Oni and the Orochi are ready. At his command, we unleash them on Earthrealm." Footsteps and smell told Toxik that D'vorah was leaving as two more Revenants walked out. "Have you found the portal to the Heavens yes?"
"Yes, but his wards protect it. We cannot break through." The five looked over the edge to see the five undead talking.
"Unacceptable." Kitana said. "After Earthrealm is destroyed, we must complete Lord Shinnok's revenge: invade the Heavens and destroy the Elder Gods."
One male lead the other two away leaving only the two females behind. "Did she just say what I think she said?!" Takeda whispered. "If Shinnok can actually take down the Elder Gods..."
"End of the universe. Got it." Jacqui finished.
"Kung Lao... to see him like this..." Jin said with regret.
"If we don't pull this off, we're all gonna be hanging around the Netherrealm watering hole." Cassie replied. "Let's go."
The five moved forward when the rock under Takeda crumbled away. He latched onto the ledge as Jacqui reached for him, alerting the three female Revenants. The other three jumped over the wall and charged them, Toxik tackling the one in green. The two traded punches before she pulled out a glowing staff.
She spun it around her shoulders before Toxik rolled back, pulling out a pair of knives as he stood up. "You're Jade, aren't you?"
"Kotal told you about me, then?" She replied, leaning her staff against her shoulder. "Then you know that Raiden must pay for his crimes."
"Shinnok did this to you, not Raiden." Toxik said. "Kotal has never lost faith in you. He thinks we can still save you."
"Then he is a fool. And you will join us in Shinnok's service!" She thrusted her staff forward and he leaned back before she threw her bladed boomerang at him. Toxik blocked with his knife and spun around before throwing it at Jade. The emerald clad woman swatted it with her staff before her aerial blade returned, striking the hybrid in the back.
Jade spun and struck his face before planting the staff in the ground and jumping off it, kicking Toxik back. She swung at his legs and he jumped over it, kicking her in the face as well. He slid forward on his acid and blocked a stab from the boomerang before spinning it out of her hand.
Jade growled at him before swinging her staff back and forth, cracking him in the face. Jade slammed her staff into his throat, making him gag before she jumped over and slammed her knee into his back before beginning to choke him. Gagging for a bit, Toxik slammed his head back. It was enough to wiggle his fingers in between the staff and the two started pushing against each other. "You are but a child. You stand no chance against me." Jade declared.
"Maybe so, but there's just one difference between you and me." He smirked as his bracelet started glowing before biting on to Jade's wrist. "You don't know anything about me." Xiuhcoatl wrapped around Jade's wrist and twisted it, forcing her to drop the staff.
Toxik opened his mouth and sprayed acid in her face, blinding her as he clawed at her face. A roundhouse kick turned her around before Toxik jumped and slammed both fists onto her head, sending Jade to the ground. "I pray to the Great Serpent that we can save you." Toxik said before running over to Kitana.
Jin was tossed into the bell as the other four surrounded Kitana. "Hate to interrupt, but we're on a bit a time limit." Takeda reminded the others before rushing the fallen princess. She opened her fans and created a mystic tornado before throwing them into Takeda and Jacqui.
She summoned them both back before staring at Cassie. Toxik charged only to be hit by another storm and was thrown through a temple wall. Pushing himself up, the Outworlder found himself in a dining area. A hand brushed against his leg and he turned to fight, only to find a man reeking of booze mumbling on the ground.
"Stupid fat drunk..." Toxik mumbled before standing up. He jumped out of the wall to see Cassie and Jin helping the other two up. "So what now?" He asked as they approached Jacqui.
"It's nothing, just like Kurdistan." She replied.
Shouts caught their attention as six male Revenant raced towards them. "You three go. Jacqui and I will handle this." Takeda said, shocking the group.
"Look, I don't know who this 'Kurdistan' was but I guarantee he wasn't six undead warriors." Toxik retorted. "If you stay, you'll die."
"We'll only slow you down." Jacqui pointed out.
"You're not staying without back up." Jin said.
Xiuhcoatl looked up at her owner and bared her fangs at him. "I've got something kinda like back up." Toxik said. "But she can't hold for long. So when it fades, you better take care of her." He gripped his bracelet and threw at the group. As it flew through the air it grew in size and blocked the undead off, hissing at them.
The humans stared at each other in shock before Cassie pulled out her guns. "Keep your heads down. I'll see you on the other side." She told Jacqui and Takeda before running into the temple. Jinn and Toxik ran after her as a black fireball pushed the massive snake back. "So since when could your pet do that?"
"She's not a pet." Toxik replied as they ran through the temple. "She's an ancient Zaterran weapon used by a legendary assassin. I'm the first to use her since Shao Kahn conquered her home. And that's just something I found out."
The conversation came to a stop when a red glow spilled out of an open door. Floating in the center of it all was a glowing skeletal creature with the amulet imbedded into it's chest. Off to the side was a large bone hand holding a man in white garbs and on the other side was an older man wrapped in D'vorah's webbing.
Bugs crawled over his body as the Kytin stared at his face. "They taste your flesh, burrow deeper." She said. "They will grow inside of you, gnaw at your insides."
The three raced in and stared in horror. "By the gods!" Jin mumbled.
"Dad!" Cassie shouted as the three charged D'vorah. Jin swung his bow and bug woman blocked it before punching Cassie aside. A pair of stingers popped out of her back and forced Toxik back before another stung the archer. He pulled away and Toxik swung a knife that forced her back as Cassie punched her in the face, sending her stumbling back.
The three blocked each others hits before they pushed back. "Take care of Jinn and help your father. This is an Outworld affair." Toxik said. Cassie nodded and ran to help her father as the two stared at each other. "I never would have pegged you for a traitor. If anything, I thought it would be Erron."
"This One acts to ensure the Hives survival." D'vorah replied. "And your flesh will do just that." Her stingers popped out and tried to stab him but he pushed them aside before kicking her in the chest. She pulled her arm back and fired off a swarm of gnats at him. Toxik opened his mouth and sprayed acid, melting her 'children'.
The two streams stopped and D'vorah found herself alone before a kick hit her back. The Kytin turned and swung her pincers low, hitting something that fell to the ground. Webbing then shot out of her mouth and pinned it to the ground before stabbing it with her pincers. Toxik turned visible and groaned in pain before throwing a knife.
D'vorah took to the sky and the blade embedded itself in the wall before he sliced himself to freedom. D'vorah dived at him and he jumped before wrapping his arms around her head and his legs around her body. The two crashed to the ground and Toxik squeezed before moving his head from a stinger. Bugs began pouring out if her arms and started gnawing at his skin, forcing him to break the hold.
He kicked her back and D'vorah growled before firing mire bugs at him. Toxik rolled to the side and slid on his acid before hitting a pump kick on her head. A stinger popped out and hit Toxik in the arm before he grabbed it and sliced it with a knife, making D'vorah cry before a ball of acid hit her. Toxik grabbed her head and slammed his knee into her gut before another dropkick sent D'vorah to the ground. "Consider yourself squished."
He turned and ran over to Cassie before throwing her a knife. "So... Punkin... who's your friend?" Johnny asked as the two started slicing through the webbing.
"Introductions later." Cassie said. "Right now, we need to get you out of here."
"No... get... Shinnok... I love you..." He groaned out before closing his eyes.
"Dad... Dad?!" Cassie asked.
"So you two are this worlds last defense?" Shinnok asked as he stepped out of the glowing point. "Fitting that I exterminate you along with the one who stopped me."
"You want this world/ You want him, you're gonna go through us first." Both declared before charging and throwing punches. Shinnok blocked them all with ease before Cassie punches the former Elder God in the head. It only hurt herself before Shinnok punched them both and grabbed her neck before doing the same, knocking her to the ground.
From behind, Toxik threw a high kick that did nothing before stabbing into the back of the thigh. The metal snapped against the skin as Shinnok just laughed. "A failed experiment of a dying race." He said before blasting Toxik back. The assassin pulled out another knife only for Shinnok to twist it out of his hand and thrusted his clawed hand into Toxik's chest.
The Outworlder grabbed the wrist and pushed against it, but the tips still began digging into his chest. "This is what await those who defy me." The god said as blood started leaking out of Toxik's mouth. "Excruciating, exquisite death." He dug deeper and Toxik screamed in pain.
A blast of green energy hit the god in the head and he turned to see Cassie standing up, covered in a green aura. "I was right..." Toxik whispered before Shinnok kicked him through a stalagmite.
Cassie looked at her hands in shock. "Holy shit, it DOES run in the family." She said in shock.
"Your father's power will not save you." Shinnok declared. "You cannot hope to survive."
"Maybe not alone." Toxik declared before running and kicking the god in the back. Cassie zoomed forward and kicked Shinnok in the face, this time actually doing damage. Toxik sunk to the ground and turned invisible before crawling along the ceiling. He jumped down and forced Shinnok to the ground head first.
Rolling next to the girl, Cassie fired off a blast of energy from her hand as Toxik summoned a ball off acid and sent it flying at Shinnok. Both hit and dazed the god before he stood up and fired off streams of fire at the two. Both braced behind their arms only to have the god grab their heads and slammed them to the ground before stomping on Cassie.
He picked up Toxik and slammed his spiked knee into the hybrids guts, piercing it before throwing him to the side. Shinnok turned to Cassie and dug his claws into her. Toxik raced over and slashed his back. That momentary distraction allowed Cassie to raise her glowing leg and kick Shinnok in the face before wrapping her feet around his head and threw him aside.
Toxik then helped Cassie up before pushing her to the side as a demon dived at him. He held it back as the winged beast started biting for his neck as Cassie turned around. Shinnok stood back up and charged her, swinging his claws. Cassie blocked and pushed them back before kicking three times along the body.
The green glow stung him and forced him back before she pulled out her guns. Twin shot of energy out and hit the god in the head before she pistol whipped it. Unfurling her baton, she jumped over and swung it against his jaw before kicking him back. Toxik roared as he ran forward and bashed the demon against the god. Unamused by the act, Shinnok slashed at both of them before slammed them into each other and kicked Cassie away.
Shinnok grabbed Toxik, spun and forced him into the gods molten chest. Toxik screamed in pain before he pushed against the chest and pulled his head out, the golden amulet in his teeth. Bent over in pain, Cassie then kneed the god in the face before delivering two punches to the head. Toxik slashed at his legs and dug his claws into the flesh as Cassie delivered a flip kick. Shinnok flew over they hybrid who grabbed him and slammed the god into the ground.
Panting heavily, both warriors prepared for a further fight only for the god to remain still. The glowing aura died as Jin stood back up and raced over to the two. "You two did that?" He asked. "Not bad."
"Cassandra Cage..." The man in white groaned out, making the three run over to the large hand. "Put me... in the Jinsei."
"But Raiden... it could kill you!" Jin said.
"It must... be cleansed. Hurry." Raiden demanded. Toxik gripped one of the bones and ripped it off as the other two did the same. The three helped the god into the main pool, where he began chanting a spell. The entire chamber began shaking as lightning shot at the downed god. Seconds later the chamber exploded in a blue light as Shinnok reverted to his normal form.
Jin and Cassie helped Raiden out of the pool as Toxik stood on D'vorah's cloak. "You aren't going anywhere." He said before he turned his head. Footsteps told him to prepare for a fight only for Cassie's mother to enter with soldiers.
"Isolate Shinnok and D'vorah. And get a medic!" She ordered before racing over to Cassie and her father. "We'll fix you up. Help is on the way."
"You should have seen Cass." Johnny groaned out. "Wiped the floor with Shinnok."
"Well, I had some help." The daughter said as Toxik walked over, D'vorah on his shoulders.
He quickly bowed to the two before standing straight. "I am called Toxik. A member of Kotal Kahn's court. I wish to take D'vorah back to Outworld for her crimes."
"Cass, what do you think?" Sonya asked.
The blonde looked at the Outworlder and let out a small smile. "We can trust him. I put my life on it."
Toxik smiled back as his bracelet slithered into the room. "Maybe... I could return some day." He said as his weapon wrapped around his wirst. "Help smooth things over with our realms after everything that happened. And... maybe just to see you?"
Cassie walked over and punched his shoulder. "I'd like that a lot, scales."
Probably my longest chapter for this whole story, but I think its well worth it. Obviously I wasn't going to have my guy beat Shinnok single handedly because that would make him WAY to OP for this story. So I had him help with Cassie. Never made any sense that some Revenants were missing in this game, so I put them all in here. And don't worry, we'll see Reptile again. Just not any time soon.
Now, on to an important question; Do you want me to do Toxik's MKX intros now since that that game is done, or after I finish the whole story? Let me know in the reviews and I will see you next time.
Beta read by General Feng Xiang.