Chapter 8
Family Matters
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
Location /Date / Time Change
Black Dragon Base
An explosion rocked the hive of scum and villainy. Cassie, Nightwolf and Toxik lead the charge of Special Forces into the base. Toxik turned to the left and stabbed a smuggler in the neck before racing to the cage. "Stay back. This won't be pretty." He told the past versions of Cassie's parents.
Toxik began gagging as some acid dripped out of his mouth, melting some of the chain. "Talk about halitosis." Johnny chuckled before a shot hit him in the shoulder. The assassin turned to see the past version of Erron Black walked over. The cowboy aimed his gun at Sonya's head before Toxik tackled him to the ground.
The human pushed his knees up and forced Toxik overhead into a mob of smugglers. "Why do you side with scum like Kano?" He asked standing up. "In my time, we are allies under Kotal Kahn."
"Partners? Me and you?" The past version chuckled. "I'm loyal to one thing; money. And bagging you will be one hell of a payday." He pulled out his pistol and shot at Toxik, who rolled to the side and tossed a knife at the cowboy. The texan dodged and charged, throwing a wild punch.
The hybrid leaned back and caught the wrist before slamming him over the shoulder. He leaned down and punched Erron in the face as hard as he could before a shot hit his shoulder. Erron nipped up and fired more shots that Toxik blocked with his sword. The assassin then slid forward and kicked Erron into the cage before charging.
The two broke through the cage, cutting both of them, and Toxik pulled his head back before slamming it into Erron's face, knocking him out. Toxik stood up and felt cold steal on the back of his neck. "You really think that would be enough to take me out?" Erron cocked the gun only for Xiuhcoatl to wrap around his wrist and pull it down.
Toxik spun and kicked the hat off the cowboy before slamming his fist into the back of the past versions head. With one final punch to the gut, he collapsed to the ground as the weapon slithered back to the owner. He turned back to snapped metal and melted it smooth. "Medicals, now!" He shouted to the people around him.
Cassie and Nightwolf joined the group, the mantle holder staying at the ready to fight. "We need to fight our way to the rendezvous point." Cassie said, grabbing her future dad. "You'll need these." She handed Sonya her energy gauntlets as the group split up.
Toxik ended up with Sonya who punched a Black Dragon in the face before Toxik stabbed him in the back of the head. They followed the others before a glowing green arrow hit Toxik in the bad shoulder. The two watched as Nightwolf walked forward, this one a grey skinned revenant with white and black armor. "Go." Toxik told Sonya as he pulled the arrow out.
"I can help." She said.
"If you die, this is all for nothing. Go!" Toxik charged the undead and swing his living sword, forcing the Revenant to block with his axe. The blonde ran past the pair before Toxik swung his leg low. He kicked the knee ditch and forced the undead to a knee, only for a knife to hit his knee.
He pulled back and clutched his right knee for a second before rolling back from another stab. Toxik pulled out two of his own knives and blocked the knife. "Why are you here?" He asked, pushing against the energy weapon. "I thought you despised Kano and the Black Dragons."
"Because if I had followed through, I wouldn't be this right now!" The Revenant declared before a spectral eagle flew and started pecking at Toxik.
Xiuhcoatl shot up and tried to bite it, unknowingly pulling her owner back. Toxik lost his footing and just barely missed a tomahawk taking his jaw off. He twisted his leg and forced Nightwolf to the ground, cracking his head on the ground. Toxik flipped over and dug his claws into the enemies chest before kicking his head.
A spectral bear appeared and swung its claws, tearing into Toxik's arm. The creature vanished before the revenant stood up and threw his axe. It hit Toxik in the chest, making him stumble to the side and the undead charged again. Toxik grabbed the charging foe and threw him over head, sending him tumbling down a set of stairs.
Panting, Toxik pulled the axe out and turned back to the exit before racing out to the cold outside, triggering his invisibility when he saw Kano firing a large gun at a truck. He raced forward and stabbed Kano in the arm, forcing him to drop the gun. "Wanker!" Kano reached up behind and flipped Toxik over before getting blasted by energy.
"Stay here. I've got this." Sonya said before chasing the older Kano.
Cassie raced over and started applying first aid to the wounds. "Shots, stabs, slashes, what the hell did you get up to?"
Toxik pushed himself up against the truck, finding the past versions of Johnny there as well. Nightwolf was there well, taking care of Johnny. "Your revenant is a real piece of work." He told the tribal warrior before turning back to the girl. "We need to get moving... If Sonya dies, so do you."
A small orb rolled next to the four before it exploded, blinding the group. Their ears ringing in pain, they could do nothing as someone grabbed the past Johnny. Toxik opened his eye and found Cassie screaming at him. He started sniffing the air and his weapon pulled on him
The three quickly raced around the truck and found the present Kano holding a knife to Johnny's gut while Sonya had a boot on the past mercenary's neck. "Thanks, Kano."
"For what?" The cyber-eyed man asked.
"For reminding me of the rules." Sonya replied before pulling out her gun and shooting the past Kano in the eye.
Kano let go of Johnny as he stumbled forward, his human eye rotted away into a hole. He gasped in pain as his body started turning to sand and collapsed. "Well, that's fucked up." Toxik said as he and Cassie helped each other to the medic.
As the medical team arrived, Toxik helped her up to the truck. "So, ready to get some proper treatment?" She chuckled before a medic came up to him. The trained woman reached him and began applying a numbing agent to the arm. Toxik looked nervous as the medic pulled out a needle and started sewing him up.
"First doctor's visit?" Cassie teased, getting her arm looked at.
"We have doctors in Outworld." He replied, flinching as he felt the needle sew up his flesh. "But they don't usually push metal into us."
"Guess it's just one of those differences between worlds..." She mumbled. Cassie turned her head to the side, only for Toxik to hold her free hand.
"The worlds may be different, but I will always return to you." He said, making the girl smile.
A scent caught his nose before both turned to see a soldier getting thrown off a balcony. A dark skinned man with glowing blue eyes and veins jumped down at the group. Soldiers started firing at the man, only for the bullets to merely sink through his skin as he slaughtered them all. "What is that thing?"
"Geras, Kronika's goon." Sonya answered, walking forward. "Liu Kang says he can't be killed."
"Fought a dude like that in 'Fatal Infinity'." Johnny said before groaning in pain.
"Get him in the E-vac. I will keep this thing busy." She said before she raced forward.
The two began fighting as Cassie pulled her future father back before running away. Toxik chased after her before catching up. "We can't just leave Sonya, we have to help her."
"Don't worry. We will." She climbed onto a machine and turned the key. "Up for stalling that bastard?" Cassie asked, making him nod. He turned and ran back to find the pair fighting. Sonya was slammed to the ground and almost crushed her head only for Toxik to kick him back.
Geras merely turned around and stared at the man. "Toxik, son of Syzoth. You aided in Shinnok's defeat. And Kronika demands vengeance." Instantly he slid forward and grabbed his throat before lifting Toxik off the ground. He wrapped his legs around arm and tried to break it, only for the limb to stay strong.
Gasping for air, Toxik pulled his head back and sprayed acid in Geras' face, finally freeing him. A beeping forced them to jump to the side as the golem was impaled by a forklift, driven by Cassie. She slammed on the gas and trapped Geras against a wall. "Come back from this." Cassie stood up and threw two grenades at the man before running back.
The bombs exploded and the three embraced. "You okay?" Her future mother asked.
"I'll be fine." Cassie answered, rolling her shoulders. "I come from tough stock."
"Look... what I said back at the base... about the mission. It wasn't right." Sonya said. "You're a damn fine soldier. I'm so proud, I can almost see myself dating Johnny. Almost. And you keep good company too."
"I wish I could go back. Do our last mission over." Cassie confessed. A smile on his face, Toxik pushed the two closer and they hugged before a paper hit him in the face. He pulled it off is face and went wide eyed at the writing on it. "What's wrong?" Cassie asked.
"This is... Zaterran." He mumbled. The blood started pooling together and went over to the crater. "I didn't think they were serious about him..."
"All squads move! Evac now!" Cassie shouted before the three raced to the medical truck and jumped in. The truck and other vehicles sped away as the note drew everyone's attention. "So what does it say?"
Toxik just stared at the paper before turning to the girl. "I need to go somewhere. Can you give me a ride?"
"Where are you going?" The blonde asked in concern.
"I can't say. It says I need to come alone." He replied.
Cassie just sighed before pulling on her walkie talkie. "We need a bird to take our guest somewhere." A ladder dropped down seconds later and Toxik walked over to it. "You'll come back, right?"
Toxik hung his head before turning back as he grabbed a rung. "I honestly can't say." The ladder pulled away from the truck before it was pulled up, the two never once looking away from each other.
Toxik walked through the destroyed city, following the instructions on the letter. "It should be around here somewhere." He mumbled, sniffing the air. The cement cracked under his before he jumped back as the ground exploded open into a massive cavern.
"Guess this is the place..." He mumbled to Xiuhcoatl before jumping down. The hybrid stood up and studied the walls, finding scrawling all over it. A scent crossed his nose and his eyes went wide before turning and running further into the cave. The crack opened up into a center cavern before a force tackled Toxik to the ground from behind.
The two rolled down a small ledge before they came apart. Toxik slid back and drew a knife only to find empty air. His weapon hissed as it turned on his waist. The hybrid turned around and slashed his knife, drawing green blood. He then cleaned the blade and threw the blood in a circle.
Some of it started moving towards him and he jumped up and stabbed down, digging into the assailants back. The invisible being cried out before Toxik shifted his weight and flipped the assailant onto his back. Toxik rolled back and his eyes watched as the green scaled skin came into view.
"That's enough." Toxik turned as more and more Zaterrans appeared around him. One female stepped forward, donned in a green mask that hides the lower part of her face, ornamented with the drawing of a golden eastern dragon. She wears a black dress with an opening at her legs, to give more flexibility and freedom of movement. It's beneath a green scaled breastplate, a couple of steel shoulder-pads with three green spikes on it.
She wears fingered black long gloves beneath a couple of large steel armlets with eastern dragons engraved in it. On her waist level, she wears a steel belt with the sheath of her Falchion. On her legs, she wears steel greaves underneath the dress, and steel boots.
The woman eyed Xiuhcoatl, as did every other lizard person in the cave. "You use our most sacred weapon. Who are you?"
"This... this can't be." Toxik mumbled as he looked around. "I thought I was the last."
The woman looked down again as some began preparing to strike. "I ask again; who are you?"
"He is my son." A voice spoke up before Toxik saw Reptile walk forward next to the female Zaterran.
"Master!" Toxik quickly bowed in respect before his teacher turned to the woman.
"This is the one I spoke of, Khameleon." He said. "The one who helped defeat Shinnok."
"Then he answered the message." The female said with a smile. "And he has come alone?"
A commotion caught everyone's attention before the mob pushed someone forward. Toxik turned and came face to face with a blonde human he knew all too well. "Cassie, what are you doing here? How did you get here?"
"Well, it seemed like you needed help." She replied, rubbing the back of her head. "And... I kinda followed you here."
"You have violated the terms of the agreement." Khameleon declared. "You have only earned death." She raised her hand and mob started walking in on the two.
"Well, so much for getting them to help us with Kronika." Cassie said, getting ready for a fight.
"There may yet be a way..." Toxik replied before quickly bowing to the queen. "Khameleon, by our most ancient right I claim a right to the trial of Titanaboa! Give me any task and I shall perform it."
Khameleon raised her hand and the Zaterrans stood down. "There is one way..." She said. "You must secure our most sacred relic, the reason we entered exile to this realm: The Dark Robe Of Fuuma." The mob whispered in disbelief before torches lit up. "Be warned, another has come to earn our favor. Whomever succeeds first, we will listen to."
"Thank you, your grace." Toxik said before he lead Cassie through a large open chamber. "You shouldn't have followed me."
"I thought you'd be happy." She replied as they walked deeper into the cave. "This is chance for us to bond and all that."
"I was trying to keep you out of this." He replied. "Zaterrans aren't the biggest fans of Earthrealmers. In their mind, they were robbed from this world."
"And now, you both will die here." A husky voice declared before black portals opened and forced the two back. A black clad ninja with death colored skin walked out, a sickle embedded into his back.
"Who the hell are you?" Toxik declared. The ninja merely smirked before clones of him appeared and grabbed the two, binding them in place. "What is this?"
"A deathly shadow." The shade declared. "In life, I was known as Bi-Han."
"And that means what here?" The hybrid declared.
"He was the first Sub-Zero." Cassie said, pulling on her arm to try and free it. "File says Scorpion ripped out his spine, left it a heap in Shang Tsung's throne room."
"An event the New Era will wipe from history." He declared, walking forward. "Kronika sent me here to ensure the Zaterrans would aid her."
Toxik glared at the wraith before his living weapon hardened it's tail and stabbed into the head of one. It then sliced the neck of another which freed Toxik's arm before he stabbed his claws into the head of the third and crushed it. The fourth was met with a spray of acid and a knife to the gut before he sliced up.
"Why should we trust Kronika!?" Toxik shouted, his voice echoing through the caves. "It is her plan that reduced our people into hiding underground! Her plan that destroyed Zaterra! She has no benevolence in her, and you have to be a fool to trust her."
He charged the ninja and it slid into a portal, forcing Toxik to roll onto the ground. The ninja appeared behind and swung his curved blade, forcing Toxik to block with his armored arms before pulling out his own blade. Noob merely vanished again and the blade dug into Toxik's leg before it hooked his shoulder. A clone then appeared and punched Toxik in the face, drawing blood.
Toxik wiped his mouth before ducking another punch before grabbing the arm and threw the copy into the original. He waved his arms and sent a wave of acid at the two, only for Noob to push the clone into it. The clone vanished before Noob came from behind and picked up the man before slamming him onto the undead knee.
He pushed Toxik to the side and watched as he pushed themself up. Another clone pulled him in and Noob stabbed his sickle into the side before he was blasted by shadow magic, paralyzing the hybrid as it pushed him back. "No, you have been a fool to stand against her." Noob Saibot declared. He waved his hand and his clone charged before a trio of gunshots went off, destroying it.
As he solely focused on the battle, he forgot to strengthen the clones that held Cassie in place. Cassie stepped forward and dropped into a combat stance. "Come on, we beat Shinnok together. We can handle this emo clown." Toxik raced forward and picked up the ninja before continuing to charge.
Cassie jumped and kicked the side of the undead's head before jumping again, placing her knees on the back of the head. Toxik slammed Noob down and Cassie's knees cracked his skull. The clone appeared behind and grabbed the girl before pulling her away, the ghost blade cutting into her stomach. Toxik grabbed the original by the shoulders and sprayed acid in its face before palming it.
He then started squeezing and the undead cried out before going for its blade. Xiuhcoatl bit down on the hand and tore it off before Toxik slammed his head down. The softened skull exploded open, and the clone faded away. Toxik panted in exhaustion before he helped Cassie up. "You okay?"
"Been... better." She chuckled before they helped the other walk forward. The two soon reached a mass of green mist leaking out of an open gold encrusted door. "Is this the place?"
"It is..." Toxik nodded, setting her down. "I'll be back... But if I'm not, please... just move on." Toxik walked through the gate and was meet with the source of the swathing green mist. The hybrid stepped forward and the door closed behind him. Cassie ran up and pressed against the door, trying to find a way in. Seconds started to pass as she banged on the stone.
A foul smell caught her attention and she stepped back as the stone started to melt. A massive hole started to be carved into it before the green goo carved a clean tunnel into it. Cassie smiled as she saw Toxik through the hole, donned in the sacred robes of his people.
It's a black robe underneath a scaled chestplate. With a steel pauldrons with purple spikes on it. Scaled gauntlets with the color of steel, they also have nailed fingers. Xiucoatl remained as a belt, nuzzling much happier on this fabric. It also possessed scaled greaves with purple spikes on it and black leather boots. The hood of the robe is pointed and black leather with a large mouth guard that went to his nose. Completing the outfit was a large black cape that went to his knees.
Toxik flipped the hood back and took the guard down before he walked next to Cassie. "Shall we go say hi?" The two walked back to the throne room before bowing to the matriarch.
"You have succeeded where so many others have failed." Khameleon spoke before standing up. "We heard your impassioned words to the Wraith. You have proven yourselves worthy. We will fight Khronika with you."
Fire Gardens
"Never imagined we would have a Zaterran army on our side." Cassie chuckled as the two walked into the gardens. "Now all we need is Kharon and we're set."
"That's if Grandmaster Hazashi can convince him to help." Toxik said, shaking his arm. "I must admit, it feels weird being in this armor."
"It looks good on you." Cassie confessed before rubbing the back of her head. "So, when this is all over, wanna finally go on that date?"
A blast of energy sent a pulse through the garden, causing Toxik's burn to act up. "It can't be..." He mumbled before turning to his companion. "Get help, now!" He ran further into the sacred place before stopping. There he found the Revenant Scorpion with a massive scorch mark on his chest, Sub-Zero holding his arm in pain and Raiden and Liu Kang standing.
In the gods hand was the amulet of Shinnok. Liu Kang stood in front of the god only to be pushed aside and fire another blast at Scorpion. "Put down the amulet! Its darkness is taking hold of you!" Raiden turned and blasted Liu Kang back.
"What are you doing with that thing!?" Toxik asked as the defender of Earthrealm turned to him.
"Our time has run out! I do what I must to save Earthrealm!" He declared. Liu Kang pushed himself up only for Raiden to zap the ground in front of the monk. "Stay down!"
"There's crossing the line and then there's crossing the line." Toxik said, stepping in front of the monk. "We do not torture our enemies, and we don't attack each other. Scorpion has done nothing to deserve this."
"An Outworlder has no business in this! Begone!" The god declared before dropping into a fighting stance. Toxik did the same before the two charged. The hybrid drew a knife and sliced at the god, who blocked each swing before he channeled lightning into the metal and forcing Toxik to drop it.
Acid dripped from his fingers and he tried to grab the god, only for Raiden to vanish and come up from behind in a flying tackle. The two rolled on the ground before Raiden zapped him with the Amulet. Toxik nipped up and slid forward before kicking the god in the face.
Raiden turned and glared at the human before blasting it with lightning. He then grabbed Toxik's arm and punched the elbow, cracking the bone. Toxik gripped it in pain before an orb hit the hybrid and knocked him to the ground. "The realms hang in the balance! To defend them, I must command order!"
"Don't give me that bullshit!" Toxik said, pushing himself up. "At your core, you are a tyrant!" He dropped to the ground in pain as Raiden pulled the amulet back, energy charge off it.
Liu Kang launched forward and kicked Raiden back. "I thought it impossible, but Toxik was correct. You cannot be trusted."
"I do not need trust. I demand obedience!" The god shouted, his eyes and lightning turning red.
"Enough of your madness! If you must die, so be it!" Liu Kang declared, preparing to fight.
The protector of Earthrealm looked up and took a step back in shock. "This-this has happened before..." Suddenly, he grabbed his head in pain and screamed before dropping to the ground. Cassie and the others raced over as the blonde helped Toxik up. Raiden stared up at the medallion in his hand before slamming it down to the ground in defiance.
Standing up, Raiden turned to the men and spoke. "I have been a fool, Liu Kang. Kronika's puppet. We battle only because she will it." He turned to the crippled ninja and walked over. "I must help him." Scorpion tried to crawl away only for Raiden to kneel down and use his magic to heal his wound.
Raiden offered a hand and the Revenant took it, standing up. "Forgive me for doubting you. I too have been a slave to anger."
"You expect us to believe this?" Toxik asked. "Kronika caused you to snap into a blind rage?"
"Yes." The god confessed. "I succumbed to her influence. But then, our confrontation... it unlocked memories. Memories not only of this timeline, but of timelines that came before."
"Wait a second, 'timelines'?" Cassie asked. "As in plural?"
Raiden nodded and walked into the center of the group. "Kronika has restarted time on countless occasions, using each timeline to learn and prefect her plan. The details of each of timeline are different. People who are dead, people who don't exist, but in each one events conspire to bring Liu Kang and I into battle. In each one, he dies. Only Kronika has the power to manipulate time and fate."
"That doesn't make any sense." Toxik spoke up. "Why do that?"
"I do not know." The god confessed. "But be assured, Kronika will no longer control us." Sand started whipping around the group and they struggled to keep stable. Just as soon as it started it ended, but Liu Kang was missing.
"What happened!? Where's Liu Kang!?" Cassie asked.
"Kronika has taken him to her Isle." Raiden answered before turning to Scorpion. "We must leave immediately. In order to save the realms, we must save Liu Kang."
Not a bad penultimate chapter, if I say so. Then again I'm biased so I have to say that. But hey, Reptile is back and now the Zaterrans are in the mix. If you want a proper visual of the Dark Robes of Fuuma, look up 'Nightingale Armor' and 'Kotaro Fuuma' for the arms and legs.
Next chapter will be the very last one, not counting the MK 11 Intros that come after it. Let me just say this, it won't go the way you think. And prepare to see a few Revenants that weren't in the game at the start.
Beta Read by General Feng Xiang