Welcome back to Mortal Kombat Ryujin. Last time, Spyro joined Jade and Kotal Kahn in an attempt to locate Shao Kahn at the Lost Hive of the Kytinn. And while they managed to convince D'Vorah to join them, Kotal Kahn still ended up getting captured by Shao Kahn and Cetrion, even after Raiden became involved. So, what's going to happen next? Read on to discover...
(Our tale resumes in Special Forces headquarters, where Cynder is making sure her elements are at peak ability, while Jax is testing a pair of upgraded cybernetic arms, capable of firing blasts of concentrated heat, all with Jacqui Briggs overseeing everything)
Jax: Hot damn, these new arms are awesome! Ermac's in for one hell of a beatdown next time I see him.
Jacqui Briggs: He already knows the pain of a Briggs beatdown. I made sure of that.
Cynder: No doubt about that.
Jax: I can already imagine future me is kicking ass with these things.
(At the mention of her father, Jacqui Briggs suddenly becomes much more solemn)
Jacqui Briggs: I'm sure Cass has told you that "future you" spent a bit of time as a Revenant.
Jax: She did. It sounds like it must have been horrible. Being stuck under some dark maniac's thumb?
Cynder: Trust me, it's... horrible.
Jax: (Sensing something about her) Sounds like you're speaking from experience.
Cynder: I am...
Jax: She did also say I came back.
Jacqui Briggs: Even so, that time haunted Dad more than anything. But then he met mom. He may have already been revived, but she brought him... you... back to life.
Cynder: That just goes to show the power of love. At least some things are constant between our worlds.
Jax: Couldn't agree more.
Jacqui Briggs: Unfortunately, she passed away last year. Ever since, Dad's barely left the farm. Only place he feels safe anymore.
Jax: Damn. That sounds rough.
Cynder: Trust me, it really is.
(With that, we transition back to the main conference room, where Cassie Cage is showing Sonya how to operate the systems as the Johnny Cages observe from a distance, just as Cynder enters the room)
Sonya: I will admit, this future may be messed up, but this is progress.
Cassie Cage: Got to love a trillion-fold increase in computing power.
(While Sonya starts testing the software, we focus in on the Johnny Cages)
Young Johnny Cage: So I end up marrying Lieutenant Princess over there?
Johnny Cage: Surprised me too.
Young Johnny Cage: I always thought she'd end up with Jax.
Johnny Cage: You and me both.
Young Johnny Cage: If this is our destiny, I solemnly swear I will get that at the nearest opportunity.
(Needless to say, Young Johnny Cage's sexist comment has caught the attention of everybody, especially Sonya, Cassie Cage, and Cynder. And just as Johnny Cage is about to grab his younger self by the ear, Cynder slaps Young Johnny Cage across the face before dragging him out of the room by his ankles)
Cynder: You and I need to have a little talk, Little Cage.
Johnny Cage: Okay, this I have to see.
(As Johnny Cage runs off to see what's about to unfold, we focus in on Sonya and Cassie Cage)
Sonya: Okay, what made me ever think sleeping with that guy was a good idea?
Cassie Cage: Trust me, that was not my Dad as I know him. He really grew up overtime, and I like to think that's because you rubbed off on him.
(And just as the moment ends, we see Spyro entering through another door, clearly angrier than he was when he left)
Cassie Cage: So, how'd it go in Outworld?
Spyro: (With rage in his voice) How do you think it went?
Cassie Cage: I'm guessing not well.
Spyro: I'd say that the understatement of the century. Shao Kahn's got Kotal. And we could have saved him if Raiden hadn't mucked everything up!
Sonya: Wait, Kotal's been captured? How?!
Spyro: Kronika's got a daughter, Cetrion. She murdered the rest of the Elder Gods apparently. And now she's working with Shao Kahn by proxy, including aiding in Kotal's capture.
Sonya: What did Raiden have to do with that?
Spyro: (Punches a hole in a wall) Raiden stopped Jade, Erron and I from rescuing Kotal. (To Cassie Cage) But not all is lost. The Kytinn, well D'Vorah at least, appear to be on our side.
Cassie Cage: Trust me, I'd take everything she says with a grain of salt. She's sold her allies out before.
Spyro: Trust me, I'm keeping a close eye on her. Or rather, Jade is, since I'm here and all.
Sonya: Whoa.
Spyro: My thoughts exactly. I knew I shouldn't have trusted him!
Cassie Cage: Hey, think about it this way, if he hadn't been there, they probably would have gotten all of you, not just Kotal
Spyro: (Sighs) Good point.
(While this conversation is going on, we transition through the hole Spyro punched in the wall, out to Cynder and the Johnny Cages, where Cynder has just thrown Young Johnny Cage against the side of a tank)
Cynder: What is it going to take to teach you respect!?
Young Johnny Cage: Popping my shoulder back into socket would be nice. Probably followed by you untwisting your...
Johnny Cage: (Interrupting Young Johnny Cage) Listen up, you need to grow up a bit. This is a military base, not a damn movie set!
Young Johnny Cage: Wow, did you already forget I'm the best fighter here? You're me for god's sake, how do you forget that!? But you let your daughter consign me to the kids table!
Johnny Cage (Slapping Young Johnny Cage across the face, knocking his sunglasses off) Our daughter is the acting CO here.
Cynder: (Slaps Young Johnny Cage again) A little humility and respect might prove beneficial for you.
Johnny Cage: Took the words right out of my mouth.
Young Johnny Cage: (Getting back up and putting his sunglasses back on) What was it Dad always said? "Hungry people eat lunch. Humble people serve it"? Something like that anyways.
Johnny Cage: Dad was an asshole and you know it! We had a chance to avoid this when we left home, but then Hollywood made us into a worse one!
Young Johnny Cage: I can get you hating your past. But letting Reptile's Whore smack us around? That's too far!
(Now incredibly offended, Cynder tail swipes Young Johnny Cage's legs out from under him before she rips off his sunglasses and breaks them in her bare claws)
Cynder: You want to try that again? Only a little nicer this time?
(Once he gets to his feet, Young Johnny Cage takes a second pair of sunglasses off his belt, puts them on, then strikes some cheesy action movie fight pose)
Cynder: You are unbelievable.
(At this point, Cynder realizes the only way to teach Young Johnny Cage a lesson is to literally beat it into him. Which she does. Repeatedly. And quite easily at that.)
Cynder: Chauvinistic bastard.
Young Johnny Cage: (Getting up and clutching his side) You got lucky, Vermithrax Pejorative.
(And as Young Johnny Cage storms off like a child throwing a tantrum, Johnny Cage clutches his side as if he's in pain)
Johnny Cage: That hurt just watching. But it was so satisfying.
Cynder: Probably got some permanent injuries in that. And now you're feeling the consequences.
Johnny Cage: (Realizing she's right) Thought it hurt a little too much to be empathy.
(Now that Young Johnny Cage has gotten the tar beat out of him, we transition back to the conference room, where Spyro and Cassie Cage are discussing their plan of action, while Sonya has just made a terrifying discovery, the recorded audio from her demise. Upon hearing this, she leaves the desk and confronts Spyro and Cassie Cage about it, quite angrily at that)
Sonya: Care to explain why you two just left me behind?!
Cassie Cage: What are you talking about?
Sonya: On my final mission, you just abandoned me?!
Spyro: (Seeing Sonya has found the report on her demise) I think that's what she's talking about.
Cassie Cage: (Now seeing what Spyro means) Shit. (To Sonya) Look, we don't have time to do this.
Sonya: Damn it, you two just chose to abandon me to die in that hellhole!
Cassie Cage: To save the company! Those were the orders we were given!
Sonya: By who?!
Spyro: (Stepping in) By YOU! (After a few seconds pass) It's all in the report. I highly suggest you read it all.
(Just as the tension appears thickest, it's broken by a red alert going off.)
Spyro: I'm guessing that's not good.
Cassie Cage: Condition Red! Everybody go to Condition Red! We are under attack!
(As Spyro rushes from the room, we catch up with Cynder and the Johnny Cages, who are rushing into battle)
Young Johnny Cage: Yippie-ki...
Johnny Cage: No! You are not making a Die Hard joke! Not now! Not here! Not EVER!
Young Johnny Cage: Spoilsport.
Cynder: Can we focus on the fact we're being attacked?
(Just as this argument begins, a wall explodes next to the trio, allowing Young Erron Black and a bunch of mercs to enter, and as this goes on, we transition back to the conference room, where the door is being barricaded against an unseen enemy, with Spyro, Cassie Cage, and Sonya standing ready to defend)
Spyro: (Under his breath) Please don't let this end like last time.
(But just as the enemy is about to cut the door open, we transition back to Cynder and the Johnny Cages who are fleeing from cover to cover while shooting back at Young Erron Black and his troops. As they run, one of the gunmen's shots hits Young Johnny Cage in the cheek, grazing it but leaving a scar, which later appears faded on Johnny Cage's face)
Johnny Cage: (Seeing this) Okay, that's freaky like Friday.
Cynder: Then I'd get your spleen checked when this is over. Both of you.
Young Johnny Cage: Nobody. Shoots. The. FACE!
(With that, Young Johnny Cage picks up a riot shield and runs firing into the fray)
Cynder: Is he trying to get you both killed?
Johnny Cage: No, but he's going to if we don't stop him.
(Wanting to preserve the present Johnny Cage, he and Cynder run after Young Johnny Cage to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. And while he does manage to force back the gunmen, he doesn't stop Young Erron Black, who stares down Johnny Cage and Cynder)
Cynder: You go make sure your past self doesn't die. I'll handle the cowboy.
(As Johnny Cage runs off to stop his younger self from getting them both killed, Cynder confronts Young Erron Black again)
Young Erron Black: I was hoping you'd be the one staying. I owe you an ass-kicking after last time.
Cynder: You and your current self couldn't be more different if you tried. One's relatively loyal to Kotal, and the other has no allegiance.
Young Erron Black: My allegiance is to my own self-preservation. That's why I only pick winners.
Cynder: Who knows? Maybe this is where you learn to forget that mentality.
(Now Cynder engages Young Erron Black in a rematch. And just like you'd expect, it doesn't go well for Young Erron Black at all)
Cynder: You definitely need to rethink your life choices.
(Now we finally catch up with the Johnny Cage, who has managed to find Jax, Cyrax, and Jacqui Briggs, just as Cynder joins them heading into the conference room, where it seems a massacre has happened, as evidenced by dead Special Forces and Cyber Lin Kuei everywhere, with Cassie Cage among the wounded at least, and Sonya and Spyro nowhere to be seen.)
Johnny Cage: Cassie! (As he tries to help her to her feet) Don't die on me now, kiddo!
Cynder: What happened here?
Cassie Cage: They got mom... I mean Sonya. And Spyro.
Cynder: (Seeing the Cyber Lin Kuei, then growling angrily) Where did they go?!
Cyrax: I overheard Sektor say something about flying out of here.
Jacqui Briggs: (Checking the security system) They're at Tarmac B. (Seeing something peculiar on the footage) And so is Young Mr. Cage.
Johnny Cage: Tarmac B? That's right near the... (Realizes it) Please tell me he's not doing what I think he's doing.
Jacqui Briggs: He's going right into the thick of it. On foot with a riot shield and assault rifle.
Johnny Cage: (Breathing a sigh of mild relief) He's not doing it then. That's semi-relieving.
Cynder: We've got to stop him.
Johnny Cage: No worries, I've got a plan. (To Jax, Jacqui Briggs, and Cyrax) Keep Cassie safe (Almost giggling with excitement) I've always wanted to do this!
(As Johnny Cage runs off to fulfill his plan, Cynder looks back to Cassie Cage)
Cynder: Do I even want to know?
Cassie Cage: (Knowing what Johnny Cage is planning) You'll see when you get there.
(As Cynder leaves the room, we transition to outside, where Sektor, now with white armor sections courtesy of Kronika, has Cyber Lin Kuei holding down Spyro, Sonya, and Young Johnny Cage)
Sektor: Take Blade and the dragon. Kronika needs the latter alive. (To Young Johnny Cage) You however, are superfluous.
(But just as Sektor is about to kill Young Johnny Cage, a tank literally bursts out of the wall, with Johnny Cage driving it and Cynder riding on the turret)
Johnny Cage: (In sheer delight) Eat your heart out, Pierce Brosnan!
Young Johnny Cage: Come on! I've always wanted to do that!
(Johnny Cage drives the tank straight towards Sektor, taking out a few Cyber Lin Kuei before Young Johnny Cage shakes off his captors and leaps onto the tank with Cynder)
Young Johnny Cage: Mind if I hitch a ride?
(As this is going on, Sektor fires a rocket from his chest at the tank, but it does nothing. And as his doom draws nearer, Sektor cheats death by teleporting under the tank to re-emerge behind it. Johnny Cage sees the trick though, and turns the tank around to give chase, which almost ends at a dead end cliff, until a jet-like vehicle emerges from the canyon, allowing Sektor to leap on, prompting Johnny Cage to stop the tank just as the jet fires missiles at it)
Cynder: Incoming!
(Young Johnny Cage and Cynder leap off the tank just as the massive missiles hit as Johnny Cage starts turning it around, almost flipping the vehicle. Thankfully it doesn't flip just as Sektor and his jet fly over it, shooting it with a machine gun just as Cynder and Young Johnny Cage arrive at the scene. Once they do, Johnny Cage opens the cockpit door, and throws what looks like an explosive down into the driver's seat just as the jet makes a second pass)
Johnny Cage: I'd start running if I were you!
(Cynder and Young Johnny Cage get the message, and just as they flee the scene, Johnny Cage joins them, detonating the explosives just as the jet flies over, sending Sektor flying to the ground in front of them, head landing square in the sand like an ostrich. After a few seconds he pulls out and stands back up)
Sektor: (Addressing the Cyber Lin Kuei holding Sonya) Arrange another transport.
(Cynder gives a silent cue to Johnny Cage to grab his younger self and go try and help Sonya and Spyro, while she handles Sektor)
Sektor: So, you were the one who turned Cyrax.
Cynder: Turned? More like reminded him of who he really was. Something your vile Cyber Initiative tried to make him forget.
Sektor: Exactly.
Cynder: Time to kick your tin tail again. And this time, you'll stay down.
(Yet another rematch today, Cynder against Sektor. And while Kronika's armor helps Sektor a tiny bit, Cynder still floors him effortlessly)
Cynder: Don't make me have to kill you a third time.
(With that, Cynder joins Johnny Cage in attempting to stop the Cyber Lin Kuei holding Sonya and Spyro as Young Johnny Cage has been knocked out by this point. And for a few minutes they seem successful, until Young Kano shows up and starts shooting at everyone)
Johnny Cage: (Seeing Young Kano) Great. As if Throwback Me over here wasn't enough of an annoyance
Young Kano: Good to see you too, Hollywood.
(And just as Young Kano is about to shoot everyone again, Johnny Cage rushes forward, does the splits, and delivers the classic Johnny Cage Nut Punch. But unforeseen to Johnny Cage, Young Kano, in his pain, pulls the trigger on his gun, shooting Johnny Cage in the knee. which gives Cynder a distraction enough to kick Young Kano in the head)
Young Kano: You again! I owe you a beating I believe.
Cynder: Sorry, don't remember kicking your ass in Outworld.
Young Kano: So I'm the first Kano you've fought. My older self owes me 20 quid!
(Now Cynder starts her battle with Young Kano. Now while he's a tough opponent, Cynder's seen much tougher, and knocks him to the floor)
Cynder: He'd better wait on paying up.
Kano: (Approaching) Thanks for that, I'm a bit strapped for cash at the moment anyhow. (Looking around at who's here) Well, if this isn't the strangest swap meet I've ever been to.
(With that, Kano kicks Cynder in the head, knocking her to the ground just as Jax, Cassie Cage, Cyrax, and Jacqui Briggs arrive)
Kano: Don't try anything dumb. With the dragons alone we've got all the leverage here. Lady Liberty and the Ninja Mimes are a good bonus though. We're leaving and there's nothing you can do about it.
(At this point, we see the rage boiling in Spyro, as he almost explodes with dark energy, atomizing the Cyber Lin Kuei holding him down, turning into Dark Spyro.)
Dark Spyro: LIKE HELL YOU'RE GETTING AWAY!
(And before Kano realizes it, Dark Spyro has already leaped on top of him, and is just about to claw his metal eye out when Sektor's second transport arrives, one of which Spyro atomizes with Dark Aether just as the other one lands, allowing Kabal to disembark)
Kano: (Genuinely scared) Kabal! A little help here!
(Kabal sees Dark Spyro, and is genuinely terrified when Dark Spyro looks him in the eye)
Dark Spyro: Don't. Try. That.
Kabal: (Terrified) Whoa, I'm not messing with that.
Young Kano: (Not scared at all) No need to worry. I've got this.
(With that, Young Kano pulls out a remote and presses it, sending Sektor into some sort of electric paralysis.)
Dark Spyro: (Hearing the resultant beeping) What are you trying, scum?!
Young Kano: That armor wasn't the only think Sektor's been outfitted with. He's our escape plan. You let us leave, and you don't die in a nuclear flame.
Dark Spyro: I can withstand that blast.
Young Kano: I had a feeling you could, but your friends? I'm guessing they can't. Particularly your girlfriend over there. So either you let us go, or we all go up in smoke.
(Spyro may appear to still be in a rage state, he's really calculating the odds of success on any given scenario. Having decided on his course of action, Spyro charges a bolt of golden energy and runs at Sektor, passing Young Kano, but before he can release the blast, he is stopped by a blast of lightning, as Raiden arrives again, knocking him out and cancelling the charge.)
Raiden: We have no time for this folly, Spyro! We must escape!
(As this is happening, Young Kano grabs Young Johnny Cage for some reason and he flees with Kabal and Kano, taking Sonya with them as Raiden teleports everyone out of there, just as Sektor explodes, taking the Special Forces base with them, but not before Cassie Cage shoots a tracker onto the leaving transport ship. A few seconds later, we arrive at a serene garden looking setting, where Hanzo Hasashi is meditating in an open courtyard, just as Raiden and company arrive.)
Hanzo Hasashi: Raiden? What are you doing here?
Raiden: Grandmaster Hasashi, I humbly request the hospitality of the Shirai Ryu. With the Special Forces base destroyed and my Sky Temple compromised, there is no safer place for us.
Hanzo Hasashi: I see. In that case, welcome to the Fire Garden.
(At this point, Cynder gets back up, and punches Raiden square in the face)
Raiden: What was that for?!
Cynder: That was for nearly killing Spyro.
Raiden: I assure you, that charge was not lethal.
Cynder: You'll forgive me for not being sure. Given the checkered track history we've seen of you since getting here.
(And just as she says that, Spyro gets up, no longer in his dark form, just as Sub-Zero shows up on a bridge of ice, with Liu Kang and Kung Lao not too far behind. And with Erron Black and Jade being flown in by D'Vorah, the team is just about complete.)
Spyro: Where... where are we?
Cynder: Someplace safe, we hope.
Liu Kang: What happened out there?
Spyro: What hasn't happened, Liu Kang? Kotal's been captured, and your Elder Gods are dead by one of their own. Cetrion to be specific.
Liu Kang: Lady Cetrion? She is a goddess of virtue, why would she turn on the Elder Gods?
Spyro: Because she's Kronika's daughter. And Shinnok's sister.
Cassie Cage: So that's why Kronika sent the Black Dragon after us! This is revenge since both dad and I kicked his rotting ass.
Cynder: Considering Raiden beheaded Shinnok, it would more likely be directed at him if anyone.
Kung Lao: Lord Raiden did what?
Spyro: His now defunct present self did.
Cynder: Before anyone asks, it's a long story how we know.
Jade: Spyro was shown this in a dream. Or so he told Kotal and I. And I trust him for note.
Johnny Cage: He's got my vote.
Cassie Cage: Mine too.
Jacqui Briggs: Same here
Jax: Guess we're all in agreement.
Spyro: Besides, if what Cetrion had said was true, this isn't an act of vengeance. Kronika's trying to balance light and darkness. Somehow messing with the timeline is the only way she can do that.
Cynder: With Kotal captured, we don't have much time. We need to gather all the forces Earthrealm can muster.
Spyro: Even so, if Outworld's army is against us, we stand no chance against the combined might of them, the Cyber Lin Kuei, and the Netherrealm. We have to rescue him.
Liu Kang: Kung Lao and I will go. We can rendezvous with Kitana and get her up to speed.
Raiden: A wise suggestion, Liu Kang. I will join you as well.
Spyro: No chance, Kid Thunder. You're the reason Kotal was captured in the first place. Sit this round out. (To Liu Kang) Cynder and I will go with you.
Raiden: Spyro, you are still injured from your previous battles...
Spyro: And the only injuries I suffered trying to stop Sonya and the other Johnny Cage from getting captured were from you.
Raiden: It was your idea to go running in against Kano when Sektor was about to explode.
Cynder: Spyro was trying to stop Sektor's detonation.
Raiden: And pray tell how do you know this?
Spyro: I may have appeared to be operating on instinct, but I had a plan. Hitting Sektor with a controlled blast of my own Time abilities would have interrupted the countdown and stopped the detonation. You stopped me from finishing it!
Raiden: I was, and still am, simply trying to advise you on the best strategy for this battle.
Spyro: And what kind of strategy involves getting one of your best hopes captured and in all likelihood killed?! We don't trade lives, Raiden.
Cynder: And as it is, we get more done without you anyhow. Sub-Zero, Grandmaster Hasashi, Cyrax, and I can speak from experience there, considering we shut down the Cyber Lin Kuei assembly without any "divine intervention".
Spyro: All things considered, it seems the best strategy is for you to stay out of this mission. (To the crowd) Liu Kang, Kung Lao, let's get moving.
Cynder: In the meantime, we need all hands on deck to try and find Sonya and the past Johnny Cage. Otherwise, everyone be on call. We'll need you when we take down Shao Kahn.
Jade: And how exactly do you intend to get us all there?
Spyro: The same way we plan to get Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and ourselves to Outworld now. I can transport people using my Aether element. I only have enough strength to teleport the four of us right now. But by the time we need everyone ready, I should have regained enough energy to transport the rest of you. So be ready to go. Let's roll out!
(With that, Spyro, Cynder, Liu Kang, and Kung Lao prepare to rendezvous with Kitana)
Cynder: Where is Kitana anyways?
Spyro: Speaking with Sheeva, the Queen of the Shokan.
Cynder: (Silent for a moment, then asks) Do you really trust D'Vorah? Considering she helped Shao Kahn escape and all that.
Spyro: Not entirely. She's running on a utilitarian philosophy, defining utility as Kytinn survival. Keeping her on our side won't be easy, but if we can keep convincing her that we offer a better chance at survival than Kronika, she'll fight with us.
Cynder: Hope we can do that.
Spyro: You and me both.
(As Spyro finishes this line, he starts holding his head again, as if his headaches are returning)
Cynder: Another temporal headache?
Spyro: They're getting worse. But we haven't found any more timeline distortions. There shouldn't be this much chronal energy in the air, even if 25 years of history have collapsed on themselves. This doesn't make sense.
Cynder: We'll figure this out, I promise you. But first we have to save Kotal, and stop Kronika.
Spyro: True. Let's just hope Kitana's been able to convince Sheeva to join us.
Cynder: Right now, hope is all we can do.
(And with that the quartet walks off so as not to damage the Fire Garden by teleporting, our story ends for today)
Okay, that was a lot to take in all at once. Now I know I seem to be hating on Raiden a little too much. But don't worry, I have plans for him. I won't repeat my mistakes with Batman in Injustice Dragons Among Us. So, how is the negotiation with Sheeva going? And why are Spyro's headaches worsening? The answers will begin to be revealed next time. So be sure to tune in for that! Same time... same channel!