Chapter 6

A Matter of Time

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Location /Date / Time Change

2 Years Later

Kolosseum

Drums banged in beat as Kollecter stumbled back from a punch. Toxik slammed his fists down on the Naknadan's back before kicking him away. The crowd cheered as guards grabbed the six arms and locked them into a stockade. The blue skinned collecter glared at the assassin as the wooden guard locked around his neck.

Toxik's arms were now clad in brown fingerless gauntlets with red tipped spikes along the arm. His black leather plated chest piece held numerous slice marks as his tipped hood hung over his face. His scales had grown over most of his face as his teeth had sharpened into fangs. Over his chest was a green diagonal belt which held most of his knives.

His brown pants were loose leather that slightly flapped in the wind as Xiuhcoatl acted as a second belt. Underneath her was a second green belt which held further knives and poison. His black boots still held the same claws at the end, now dyed in blood.

The hybrid turned and bowed to Kotal Kahn on his throne. "For years you've escaped my justice. Sucked dry the bounty of Outworld's people. Today, you pay your debt."

"Kill me Kotal, and you lose profit." The six-armed being said.

Toxik shook his head as Kotal stood up. "You mistake me for Shao Kahn." The crowd at the deceleration as the Kahn walked down the steps. "There is no honor in sending bandits after the poor."

"Shao Kahn approved!" Kollector shouted back. "His word was law!"

Erron and Toxik walked forward and placed a basket under the being as a servant handed Kotal his blade. "Your master is dead, and so are his 'laws'. Outworld will never suffer from his corruption again." He raised the blade and the crowd erupted at the impending execution when the ground began shaking.

Statues crumbled to pieces as guards stumbled to the ground. Kollector swung his prison before impaling the key holding guard, allowing himself to gain freedom. The crowd huddled in a panic as whirlwinds of sand rose up from the ground. One faded to reveal the fallen champion Skarlet before a second Erron stepped forward.

Baraka walked out and unsheathed his blades before a younger looking Kano stepped out. A green energy emerged from the fifth before a black haired man wearing a leather coat with a scroll in each side of his waste appeared. He also wears a black leather shirt beneath the coat, and dark brown leather pants. He has on his hands some fingered leather gloves beneath silver clawed glove emerged. The next to walk out was last one faded away as Shao Kahn emerged with a roar.

Toxik turned around as six more twisters arose. A living Liu Kang walked out and prepared to fight before Kitana unfurled a fan and Kung Lao rimmed his hat. Jade walked out and entered a fighting stance before a young man with tan skin and tribal paints over his body appeared. He had some sort of leather beret with tiny teeth in the front. He wears a black leather vest beneath some strips, and blue jeans as well as silver pauldrons and bracers. Raiden was the last to leave a twister wielding blue lightning.

The entire arena was confused as Kotal looked around. Stepping forward he noticed that his statues were replaced by those of the former Kahn and the stands seemed to be younger. "Raiden? Shao Kahn?"

"General Kotal?" The masked behemoth asked, stepping forward.

Toxik walked forward and placed himself between the two. "You speak to Kotal KAHN."

Shao Kahn looked down and chuckled before turning to Kotal. "You insult me, General. Pretending to my throne and having an Earthrealmer speak for you?"

"It is mine, by right and deed." Kotal retorted. "You were killed long ago. And Toxik has proven himself more loyal than any of your so called counselors."

"We were at the Mortal Kombat tournament..." Raiden spoke up for the first time. "Kung Lao had just defeated Shang Tsung and Quan Chi."

"That was decades in the past." The current Kahn retorted.

"For us, they only happened moments ago." The god replied.

"What game is this you play, Raiden? What magic powers this delusion?" Shao Kahn demanded.

"If it is a delusion, it is one we all share!" Raiden shouted back. "Could it be that the past and the future are colliding?"

"Kitana, Baraka, Skarlet..." Kotal read out, looking around. "All Outworld champions long since past. If you are here, then perhaps..."

"I am indeed here." Jade walked forward and stared at Kotal.

"Jade..." Kotal smiled at the girl before Shao Kahn pushed her aside. "Osh-Tekk custom requires all refugees be offered assistance. I offer it to you, Shao Kahn."

"I am no refugee. I am Kahn of Outworld!" The Konquerer declared. "Vacate my throne or I shall stain these sands with your blood!" He raised his hand and his warhammer appeared in his grasp before he charged Kotal and swung his weapon. The two Kahns clashed before Kotal managed to dig his serrated club into Shao Kahn's shoulder.

An absolute melee began breaking out in the Kolosseum as the past Kahn pushed it off before pushing the blade down and slamming the pommel into Kotal's face, knocking him against a pillar. Shao Kahn then charged again and slammed his hammer down, forcing Kotal to roll aside. The pillar buckled before it collapsed down, covering Kotal.

Toxik raced up from behind and jumped onto Shao Kahn's back before pulling on the shoulder wound. Shao Kahn cried out before the hybrid pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed into the other one. Shao Kahn reached up and pulled the assassin off, holding him by the neck. He pulled his hammer back and prepared to swing it, only for Liu Kang to jump up and repeatedly kick him back.

Shao Kahn swung his hammer at the chosen one as he dodged and leaned back from a thrust. The past Kahn then screamed in pain as Raiden zapped him. Toxik coughed for air before he stood up. He raced over to the rubble and brushed off the stones before helping Kotal up. "What do we do, my Kahn?"

"First and foremost, survive this onslaught." The Osh-tekk replied before seeing Baraka slaughter his way over. "And look for the Kollecter. He shall not escape justice. Now go!" He pushed his assassin back and the hybrid raced into the fray. He jumped onto a standing pillar before quickly climbing up.

"Where are you..." He mumbled, looking about in a crouched position. He found his prize at the edge of the arena as Xiuhcoatl slithered into his hand. Toxik jumped down and raced through the fray as he slid under Kitana's fan before standing up. "Where do you think you're going?"

The Naknadan turned and growled before swinging his mace. Toxik jumped back as the metal hit the ground and the prisoner drew two blades from the bag on his back. "Shao Kahn has returned, and yet you side with the pretender?"

"Kotal gave me a home after Shao Kahn destroyed it." Toxik replied unfurling his whip. "And he has given me an order. You sentence will be carried out." The Naknadan fired a blast of blue fire from his lamp and Toxik jumped over it before throwing some knives at the blue skinned being.

The Kollector rolled to the side and charged as the assassin landed. Toxik ducked a pair of claw swings from the upper back arms before throwing a kick. The tribute collector caught it and pushed it to the side, spinning the hybrid a bit. A knife blade punctured his arm as The Kollector stabbed his leg.

Toxik growled in pain before sweeping his free leg. The Kollector fell to the ground before the assassin jumped up and slammed his feet down onto the chest. He felt the ribs crack a bit before he jumped off and kicked the Naknadan in the chest, only for arms to grab his feet.

The Kollector pushed himself up before one arm slammed down in the knee while another cracked the jaw. The assassin spun before turning and throwing Xiuhcoatl at his foe. The weapon was caught by the hands instantly before Toxik raced forward and stabbed a knife into the tribute collectors shoulder. He then slammed his knee into the face, freeing his companion.

Xiuhcoatl wrapped around the neck and began chocking him out. Toxik jumped over and grabbed the arms, wrapping three under each of his own arms. The Naknadan gasped for air before his eyes rolled into his head. The hybrid let go of the arms and he dropped to the sand floor of arena.

Toxik walked over to the downed prisoner as Xiuhcoatl slithered back over and hardened in his hand. He prepared to stab down into the head when a blast hit him, sending him into a wall. The energy died and he turned to see the young Kano walking forward. "Of course it was you."

"We've never meet, drogo." The bald man said. "But this boy here is on Shao Kahn's pay list. And I don't want to cos' me a payday because I let him die."

"I haven't been to Earthrealm in along time." Toxik mumbled, drawing a knife. "Maybe as a present I'll bring her your head as a gift!" Kano drew his own blade before he charged forward and meet Toxik's knife. The two glared at each other before they pushed each other back. Kano jumped and rolled forward though the air, head butting the assassin.

Toxik staggered back before blocking a punch and kicking back. Kano pulled his head back and slammed it metal plate first into the assassins head. The Earthrealmer pulled out a knife and repeatedly shanked the assassin on the side of the stomach, spewing blood. He then left the knife in as he raced forward and climbed it.

He pushed his boot into the face and rode the assassin to the ground, cracking his skull on the ground. Kano then pulled his foot back and another blade popped out of the sole. The black marketer slammed it down over his throat only for Toxik to desperately grab his foot. "Just... die!" Kano shouted, pushing harder.

"Not... today!" Toxik twisted the foot and an audible snap caused Kano to grab his foot. He fell to his back as Toxik jumped onto his chest. He pulled Kano up and head butted him three times. Kano's human eye rolled backwards as the hybrid panted, clutching his still bleeding gut. "Thank the Elder Gods for armor." He chuckled before staring down at Kano.

"You will never see another day." The hybrid began glowing green before he was thrown back. He spun and stood back up, seeing the source walking towards him. "You're Shang Tsung, aren't you?"

"A truly fascinating creature." The sorcerer said, his arms glowing green. "Yet I did not make you. Tell me, where is our Zatarren friend?"

"Missing, but you'll never see him." Toxik declared. "This is payback for creating that monster Mileena!" He charged forward and jumped up to stab downwards, only for three flaming skulls to hit him back. Shang Tsung chuckled before walking forward and kicked Toxik in the gut. He waved his hand and a soul flew out before it battered Toxik around.

Toxik jumped over another skull before his weapon turned into a whip. He cracked it at the wizard and slashed his face before doing the same to the other side. The Zaterran then swung it sideways and wrapped it around Shang Tsungs neck, pulling him in. Toxik pulled hard and Shang Tsung gasped before a demon rose up from behind.

The creature clawed at the assassins back before biting into his shoulder. Toxik cried out and turned to deal with it, only for the demon to turn into a soul. "You Zaterrans always were easily fooled." Shang Tsung chuckled before he raised his arms. The hybrid's limbs were grasped by green energy, raising him off the ground.

He picked up the weapon and it hissed at him before Shang Tsung grabbed its neck. "You seem to forget that I know much more about 'your' people than you do." He rose his free hand and a pit of fire erupted underneath the bound assassin. "Your soul will be mine, child."

Two demons rose from the pit, claws sharp and licking their lips as blood dripped down. "Yeah, you might know more about Zaterra than me." Toxik said, glaring at the sorcerer. "But there's something you've forgotten about all Zaterrans." He smirked.

The sorcerer tilted his head before acid shot out of Toxik's mouth. The liquid blinded him and killed the spell, letting Toxik drop to the ground and Xiuhcoatl returned to its rightful partner. He rushed forward and threw half a dozen knives forward before doing the same with his magical weapon. The blades hit all over the body before the snake wrapped around Shang Tsungs arm and neck.

She repeatedly pulled and made the wizard punch himself repeatedly. Toxik jumped and swung his arms in an 'x' slash, bloodying the mans chest as his weapon returned to his waist. Acid dripped out of his feet and he slid forward, knocking the wizard into the air. Toxik quickly turned around and kicked the mans back before shooting an acid ball into the back of his head.

The wizard pushed himself up only for his arms to give out and he dropped to the sand in defeat. The hybrid walked forward and drew a knife from his belt before flipping the man over. "That's enough." Toxik turned as the one known as Nightwolf held his arm back. "We should not stoop to his level."

The hybrid looked over to see Shao Kahn on the sand with Kotal standing over him. Bugs began flying into the arena and started swarming the two and their allies. "This is D'vorah's work." Toxik mumbled, his acid melting a few bugs.

A sandstorm appeared in the arena before the Kytin appeared. "Shao Kahn, to me!" The bug woman shouted. The fallen Kahn and his allies raced over and entered the storm, vanishing as the did. The bugs returned to her before she followed, the storm closing behind her.

"I have not known stranger days..." Kotal Kahn mumbled.

"Kotal Kahn." The kahn turned around to see Raiden and his warriors. "I am Raiden, Protector of Earthrealm."

"I know who you are all too well." Kotal declared.

"We are acquainted in your time?" The god asked.

"We were allies who became enemies." The Osh-Tekk explained.

"I find that hard to believe, given our shared antipathy towards Shao Kahn." Raiden replied.

"Everything changed after the defeat of Shinnok." The Kahn said, shocking Liu Kang. "I made a misjudgment, but Toxik trusted his instincts and joined with your forces. They succeeded but in victory, you were hardened. To protect Earthrealm you lashed out at all realms you deemed threats."

The fighters turned to the god whose head was shaking in shock. "That... cannot be..."

"Do you require further proof?" Toxik asked, stepping forward. Kotal glanced at him, but the assassin pushed forward. "Ermac and I went to Earthrealm to recover an escaped prisoner. You appeared and killed Ermac before giving me this warning." Toxik walked forward and flipped his hood up, making the time travelers eyes widen.

His face was horribly scarred as the burnt flesh had grown over the right eye. The skin was almost translucent as they could see all of the muscles. "Our Raiden wears Shinnok's amulet as a sign of his wrath." The hybrid added, flipping his hood back up.

"Be assured, Kotal Kahn. I am not that Raiden." The god declared. "We have common cause for both solving this temporal crisis and defeating Shao Kahn." The Kahn nodded in agreement. "Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Nightwolf and I will return to Earthrealm and learn what temporal anomalies have occurred there. We need to better understand this phenomenon we find ourselves in."

"I shall send Toxik with you." Kotal said, shocking the assassin. "He has ties to the current forces in Earthrealm and may be able to help you. In the mean time, my scouts will track Shao Kahn."

Raiden nodded and turned to Nightwolf as Toxik spoke up. "Kotal, are you sure I will be welcomed there? Or that we can even trust him?"

"No, but we must show give him a chance." The Kahn replied. "Besides, I'm sure someone there will be more than happy to see you."

Toxik hid his head even more before nodding and walking over to the other four. Raiden raised his hand and a bolt of lightning was called down, taking them with it.

Earthrealm

Special Forces Base

The lightning crashed down on the desert sand and the five stood at the base. "So, do we just walk in?" Liu Kang asked.

Soldiers charged out of the surrounding and aimed their guns at the four. "Don't shoot! We come in peace!" Toxik shouted.

"Stand down." The soldiers moved out of the way as Cassie walked out of the base. Her hair has grown out and longer, now tied in a ponytail that reaches halfway down her back, resulting in a further resemblance to her mother. She also sported a suit of military body armor, and a white machine floated around her. Behind her was Jacqui, who looked ready to punch him in the face.

"Cassie..." Toxik said longingly before the machine floated into his face. He pushed it aside to look at her but the device continued to stay in his way. Xiuchoatl reared her head up and hissed at it, making the machine shake and fly away. "We've come baring shocking news."

"A giant sand storm swirled around you and bring back people from the past?" She asked.

"Not just any people. Shao- wait, how did you know?" He asked, making her chuckle.

"Jacqui, take these guys to get into something less open." She ordered. The dark skinned girl nodded and the three human males followed her. "You two, with me. We have a lot to talk about."

The soldiers walked away as Raiden and Toxik followed her. They quickly entered the base and the door to the command room opened. The three walked in and Toxik looked to the side. To his horror he saw two Johnny Cage's arguing with each other. "So it is true... I walked a darker path." Raiden said.

"Walked it?" Toxik asked, glaring at the god. "You ran down it."

"After Shinnok went down, you turned into a different person." Cassie nodded. "Red lightning, black clothing, authoritarian attitude... maiming my friends." She motioned over to Toxik who hung his head.

"Yeah, what's up with that?" The current older Johnny asked. "What happened to Dark you? Why are you an only child and I'm stuck with an evil twin?"

The past Johnny merely shrugged his shoulder before waving his hand dismissively. "As an immortal, I exist outside the normal laws of time. That could explain why I am affected differently." Raiden hypothesized.

Toxik looked around at the room, nervous with all the tech around him. The Johnny's left the room, the past one talking about 'the gross' as Jacqui entered with the monks. "So, what do we do now?" Cassie asked.

"For months, I've been receiving vague premonitions of the future." The god replied. "But nothing that could foretell this. I must confer with the Elder Gods. Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Nightwolf. Assist the Special Forces while I am gone." Raiden left the room as the other three followed Jacqui to the side... leaving Toxik and Cassie alone.

"So... Where are Kung Jin and Takeda?" Toxik asked, rubbing his hand.

"They went back to their homes for a break." Cassie replied, her eyes never leaving the screen. "And I've been fine, thanks for finally asking."

"Cassie... are you okay?" The Outworlder asked, putting his hand on her shoulder.

She brushed it off to the side and turned to him. "I've been... dealing with a lot." She replied. "And then you showed back up after all this time. Two years... no letters, no messages, nothing. How do you think I feel?"

"Cassie..." Toxik mumbled as he took off his hood and stared at her. "I wrote you every day. I have a box of them back in my room. I wanted to tell you everything, but... Raiden threatened my life. I couldn't even see you or my life would be forfeit. The pain you'd go through, I... I didn't want to do that to you."

"Don't try to make it sound noble." Cassie said, pointing at his scar. "You were scared for your own life. And decided that other people weren't going to miss you when you were gone."

Toxik stared at her in confusion because he could tell that something else was there. "Cassie..."

"Cass, Tox, you need to see this!" Jacqui shouted. The two raced over to the seated specialist as she pointed at the screen. "Sat feed shows a Netherrealm force at the Wu Shi Academy."

"Neatherealm again?" The blonde asked. "Taking out Shinnok's Temple was supposed to stop them for good."

"You took out Shinnok's Temple?" Toxik asked, slightly impressed.

"It has to be the time anomaly." Jacqui replied.

"We must help our Shaolin masters." Liu Kang said, making Kung Lao nod.

"Why would the Netherrealm wanna bust up your old stomping grounds, Liu Kang?" A young Jax asked, walking over.

"The Dragon Grotto." The chosen one explained. "It lies underneath the Academy. Earthrealm's Jinsei energy bubbles up in its springs."

"Not good." Toxik said. "The last time Netherrealm latched onto the realms life force, it almost destroyed everything."

"They will not reach the Grotto." Kung Lao spoke up. "It is protected by powerful magic. The deadliest traps. I am sure our counterparts from your era are already dealing with them."

Jacqui gritted her teeth as Toxik rubbed his arm, looking around the room. "You guys... you might wanna sit down for this." Cassie said, confusing the three.

And MK11 has started for this story. Toxik has a new design to go along with it which I think came together really well. I also decided to bring in some DLC characters with the time storm for some fun.

As for why I didn't bring back a younger Reptile, it's real simple. The second Shao Kahn learns just who Toxik is he and what he did to Mileena, he would immediately just kill Reptile and erase Toxik from history. If he didn't, it be really out of character for him.

Obviously, two years apart without any contact would be tough on any relationship. But add that to her mom dying and that's really rough. I'll try not to put too much strain on it and make this rough patch as realistic as I can. But I've never been in a relationship so don't expect a masterpiece of romance.

If anyone wants to see Toxik's MK 11 design, check out Lightning-in-my-Hand on deviantart. Once again, he has done a masterpiece.

See ya next time.