Noob dragged Hanzo into the Brotherhood of Shadows' temple and laid him across the nearest table. The sadistic wraith reached into his pocket, revealing a glowing red dagger in his hand. He played with it in his hands as if to tease the Shirai Ryu in front of him. Next he drove the dagger into Hanzo's abdomen. He clenched the deep wound as jet black ooze poured out of it.

"Soon you'll be just like me, Hanzo," Noob mocked, "we're already not so different." Hanzo looked up to the wraith with a scowl, "Don't try to pull that with me, Bi-Han, we both know it's not true."

Noob knelt down and placed his hand on Hanzo's chin, "That so, mmmm? I've already explained how we aren't, so I think I'll just leave this conversation be. Now we'll be just like brothers." The dark liquid continued to cover Hanzo, leaving him unable to control his own body. Noob got back up and anticipated what was to come of this.

The transformation was soon completed. The yellow ninja was now mostly as black as Noob himself with only mere gold highlights showing what he was. The flames he once hid were now front in center as now his entire body was entirely on fire. Lastly his human features were contorted for his face was some odd combination of flesh and bone. He had no lips whatsoever and his eyes were deeply sunken-in like as if he had none at all. That isn't to say he had no eyes, for he did deep within his eye socket. These eyes were a deep burning orange as if to represent his now eternal rage, his eternal flame.

Noob nodded happily, "I've got you right where I want you. Welcome back to the world Scorpion." This newly reformed Scorpion did not speak, rather he growled angrily at his creator. It seemed all was going according to his plan until Scorpion attacked him by socking him in the face! By removing Scorpion's inhibitions, he allowed all of the anger he had built up within him to burn up and right now all of that rage was directed at Noob.

Noob tried to attack back yet Scorpion wrapped his chain around the now sorry wraith's throat. Noob tried to reason with Scorpion yet he couldn't. Where Hanzo might've felt bad about wanting to kill Bi-Han again, this new Scorpion felt no such regret. Were it not for Enenra intervening, his master would have surely died right there.

Bi-Han fell to the ground after Scorpion was put down, he caught his breath soon after.

"I was wrong," Noob admitted for once, "Even I can't control such raw anger. Still if I cannot control it, I can still direct it." He motioned to Enenra, "Get him to the dungeons! We'll have a job for him soon. I have business elsewhere." After he said that, Noob walked into a shadowy portal.

Back in Earthrealm, Sub-Zero, Kitana, and Frost set out to meet with the Special Forces in the United States. The world was recovering quite nicely after Shinnok's vicious invasion. Meeting up with these three were none other than Sonya and Jax, two of the highest ranked officers in the Special Forces.

The five of them met up in a Special Forces weapons storage facility. Liang stepped into the facility to see crates upon crates all around him. These crates were of course storing a whole menagerie of weaponry the Special Forces had on stand-by. Sitting at a nearby table was Jax who motioned for them to come over. Sub-Zero walked over and sat in the opposing seat of the table.

"Sonya will be over in a minute," Jax said, "it's a pleasure to see you again, Sub-Zero."

Sub-Zero glanced away, "I wish I could say the same to you, Mr. Briggs."

Jax instantly knew why Sub-Zero seemed distant, "I know what this is about. Believe me if I could have cancelled the Cyber Initiative 2.0 I would have. Sonya and I never supported it but the government went ahead with it anyway."

Frost seemed rather dismissive of him, "Oh yeah? Tch, what would you know of the consequences of cyberization?"

"A lot, I'd say," Jax argued while raising his cyborg arms, "I don't think you know what you're talking about little missy."

"Excuse her," Sub-Zero replied for Frost, "she's a little headstrong." Jax nodded, "It can be hard to be a father I know."

Both Liang and Frost turned to each other while he said, "I am not her father," and she said, "I am not his daughter!"

"Oops," Jax replied. He then took notice to Kitana, "She's not evil anymore is she?" She shook her head, "I've broken free of my control but unfortunately I can't say the same for the rest of the revenants."

"Damn shame," Briggs sighed, "it's nice to have you on our side again even if you aren't physically here."

"It's my pleasure I have to pay both Raiden and Noob back anyway…and Shao Kahn too if the rumors are true."

Sonya soon joined them accompanied by Johnny Cage. "Speaking of Noob, tell us more about what he's up to anyhow," Sonya asked.

"I don't know," Kuai answered honestly, "if he has bigger plans than overthrowing the Netherrealm then he hasn't said a thing about it to any of us."

"Hold on, your bro took over the Netherrealm," Johnny asked as he lowered his sunglasses, "I thought Liu and Kitana were in control."

"We were! But Noob slithered into control by winning over the people of the Netherrealm and turning them against us."

Kitana clenched her ethereal fists, "When I get my hands on that monster he'll have hell to pay!"

Johnny looked at her and noticed something was missing, "So if you're here, where's Liu? Did ya end up like me and Sonya?"

Kitana's eyes went down, "Worse…Noob's first act as new ruler was to have Liu executed."

"But can you kill an already dead man," Jax questioned. Kitana pinched the bridge of her nose, "I don't know if he really killed him or put him in some horrific catatonic state like Raiden did to Shinnok, or kicked his spirit out of the Netherrealm or whatever I just know that either way he may as well be dead."

"Okay," Sonya interrupted, "we'll get to Noob when we have to. The matter at hand is how we fight Raiden. I don't want the kids to get involved...I fear he may be too much for them."

Jax nodded, "I agree, they handled Shinnok well but Raiden is a threat to Earthrealm. They're tough but I don't want them to get hurt, especially not Jacqui."

Johnny agreed with them too, "Cassie can sit this one out, she's tough but I don't know if she's that tough."

Frost turned to Sub-Zero, "You aren't going to leave me out of this like they are to them are they?" Liang looked back to her, "Not right now, but if it becomes too much I'm pulling you out."

"You can't do that!"

"Yes I can, I am the Grand Master of the Lin Kuei and you must listen to me," Sub-Zero asserted. Frost poked where the Dragon Medallion once was, "Maybe you're not as good as you think."

"I don't think I'm that good," Sub-Zero admitted, "but I know that you're the last of the cryomancers as far as I know. I won't let our race die to Raiden."

She groaned at that, "Fine, you give the order and I'll back out but until then I'm in this with you."

Kitana chimed in, "What of Shao Kahn? I know he's back, I've heard too much to know that he isn't."

"We haven't," Sonya answered bluntly, "so until we see more signs that he's back, we'll just take those sightings as unsubstantiated rumors. Right now we need to handle Raiden."

"But they aren't," Kitana vouched desperately, "I can feel that he's out there!"

An unexpected voice agreed with Sonya, "I know for fact Shao Kahn is back but he's on our side. Raiden is our number one concern."

Everyone in the facility turned to the source of the voice, it was a heavily wounded Fujin. Fujin bowed before them, "Greetings everyone." Kitana was most unsure of this, "Fujin you have been a friend to my family for a long time so I trust you but how can you say Shao Kahn is on our side for sure?"

"Shao Kahn has been chosen as the Elder Gods' Champion as they have told me. With Raiden gone bad they came to the conclusion that the one who has come closest to slaying the thunder god was the emperor himself."

Sonya rubbed the back of her neck, "So I suppose those aren't unsubstantiated rumors anymore…but if Shao Kahn is under the Elder Gods' leash then we have no need to worry about him."

Kitana most certainly disagreed, "What?! Shao Kahn is an evil monster that can't be controlled by anybody, not even the Elder Gods. To assume he is on our side is insane!"

Sub-Zero turned to her, "I know he's taken everything from you at a young age, Kitana…but Sonya's right. We all must make compromises here. I don't want to work with the Special Forces since they resurrected Sektor but I have to. To make ends meet, we must work with Shao Kahn too."

The former princess crossed her arms defiantly, "I always have to compromise to 'make ends meet.' I'm sick of it. We don't need Shao Kahn to defeat Raiden."

"It doesn't hurt to have a back-up," Johnny suggested, "don't get me wrong it sucks that you have to work with Shao Kahn, but you think we want to work with him?"

Directly after he walked over to the nearest soda machine and grabbed himself a drink, "Yeah that's the stuff. Where was I again? Oh right right, I mean the guy tried to take over our realm and he ordered the deaths of all of our friends, most of which we still haven't gotten back, so this isn't any easier for us."

"That was surprisingly poignant, Johnny," Sonya said with a hint of shock. He sipped his soda, "Don't get used to it."

Kitana reconsidered everything and begrudgingly stood down, "He has done a lot to the rest of you too, yes. I hadn't thought of that. I will work with Shao Kahn but I won't like it."

"This entire plan will be made up of uneasy alliances I'm afraid," Fujin sadly noted, "Kotal Kahn will be working with us too since Raiden has challenged his realm to Mortal Kombat."

Sonya rested her head in her hands, "You mean the guy who attempted to invade our realm?"

"Yes," Fujin answered rather bluntly, "he has since apologized for it, which is more than what the reformed Shao Kahn can say. Speaking of which, I should be meeting with Kotal. I will see you all later." Fujin vanished in a tornado afterwards.

"Well that's just great," Jax sarcastically said, "I'm sure the former emperor and now emperor of Outworld will work together just fine with no problems whatsoever. This is starting to seem like a mess of a battleplan."

"I hesitate to even call it a plan," Johnny half-joked.

Standing outside the weapons storage facility were Raiden and his assistant Triborg. Triborg considered storming in right then and there yet Raiden stopped him.

"The time isn't right. Let them feel safe in their foolish plan to stop me. When the tournament comes, I will have Outworld along with them right where I want them."

Triborg listened to his employer, "Affirmative, I will not attack them now."

Raiden questioningly stroked his chin, "But how will we get the weapons we so need?"

"There are many more Special Forces facilities just like this," Triborg commented, "we'll just take from them instead."

"Direct me to them," Raiden demanded. Both he and Triborg flew off into the sky in search of supplies.

Fujin went to the Emperor's throne room in Outworld hoping to see Kotal Kahn. He appeared with a smile, "Greetings Kotal K—"

Yet he did not see Kotal in the throne, rather he saw a face had hadn't seen in thousands of years, "O-Onaga?!"

"In the flesh," Onaga confirmed, "I'm sorry my second in command can't see you today, I do hope I shall do."

Fujin's mind was racing right now. While he might've been able to convince Kotal Kahn to work with Shao Kahn there was no way that the Dragon King would consider it. Fujin gulped, "I…I…"

The Dragon King sneered at the wind god, "I know why you're here. You want me to work with Shao Kahn in some bid to stop Raiden. I would never ever consider working with that traitorous vermin again in over one hundred million years!"

At this time Fujin became desperate. He got on his knees and begged, "You must! You must! It's the only way you will stand a chance against Raiden when the tournament comes tomorrow!"

"I've already got my connections," Onaga stated, "you may go now, this is just pitiful."

Fujin tried to reason with him, "He's under the Elder Gods' control! He couldn't betray you again even if he wanted to!"

Onaga boisterously chortled, "The Elder Gods?! Psh, when this is over I will become the Elder God just you wait." Fujin's hope was crushed by Onaga's refusal. All hope was not lost as Kotal walked in, "Wait your highness, he's right! We need everyone on our side when it comes to defeating Raiden! I advise we take up his offer."

Onaga turned to his second with a stern glare, "Just who do you think you are to advise me, Kotal?"

Kotal swallowed his fear and stood up to the Dragon King, "I am your advisor it's my job!"

"It's your job to say yes to anything I say," Onaga replied with an insincere smile, "and you're not doing your job too good right now. You wouldn't want me to remove my immortal army from our ranks, would you?"

Try as he might, the former emperor couldn't help but collapse under Onaga's will, "Of course, what…what was I thinking?" Fujin looked to Kotal with pleading eyes as if to say please. Kotal merely turned the other cheek. The wind god sadly sighed, "If that is how it must be…so be it." Fujin then vanished without saying another word.

Kotal frowned. "I'm so sorry," Kotal whispered. Onaga grinned, "You've done well, Kotal." Kotal turned to his emperor, "I don't feel like I have."

"You've done what's best for this realm," Onaga replied, "we both know that my leadership is the only thing that can keep this realm together." Kotal nodded along mindlessly, "Of course." How did this happen. A once strong and beloved emperor has become little more than a yes man to a horrid dictator. Kotal knew in his heart that this was best for his realm, he needed that immortal army yet being reduced to this is more than humiliating.

Onaga motioned Kotal to the door, "Be gone, Kotal. I have a private meeting incoming." Kotal obliged by leaving immediately. Directly proceeding Kotal's exit, Noob Saibot stepped out of a shadowy portal. The Dragon King greeted the wraith, "I've been expecting you."

"I've been busy," Noob said as an excuse, "but I kept my end of the bargain. I led Kotal to your tomb and now you owe the Brotherhood." He reached into his sleeve and pulled out that same glowing red dagger, "I've already got the Netherrealm Kamidogu but where are the others?"

"A stooge of mine has been collecting them I think he's searching for the last one in Edenia."

Noob rubbed his hands excitedly, "I'll just have to find this stooge and have him killed…the perfect job for Scorpion."

Onaga folded his hands, "You said you would bring them to me, didn't you?"

"Those were my exact words," Noob confirmed, "don't worry, I promised to bring them to you. And the promise I made was a Netherrealm death wish oath, a most sacred bond. If I don't follow through, then the Brotherhood of Shadow will have me executed."

The Dragon King was most pleased by this, "Excellent! Soon I will rule all the realms and nobody will be able to stop me!"

Listening just outside the door was Kotal Kahn. He silently gasped, "This is not good…"

He quietly stepped away and made it to the fortress' main gate. There he ran into Erron Black. Erron noticed Kotal's concern immediately, "What's got you so up in a tizzy?"

"Onaga is working with the Brotherhood of Shadow…he wishes to possess the all of the Kamidogu so he can rule all of the realms," Kotal whispered to the cowboy. Kotal's concern soon spread to Erron, "Y'serious? We can't just overthrow him, he's too powerful."

"Not just us…we need to find a way to contact Earthrealm so we can warn them about this. They can help us."

"Ain't they busy with Raiden," Erron was quick to bring up. Kotal crossed his arms, "We were too but this far surpasses Raiden. I doubt Fujin is ever coming back here after what Onaga said to him but there must be another way."

Both sat around thinking of an idea…but then it hit Erron, "I hear Bo' Rai Cho has a vacation home somewhere 'round these parts."

"Yes, he frequents both this realm and Outworld," Kotal noted, "it seems we'll have to hope he's there when we show up."

"Too risky fer you to head out there," Erron stopped him, "if the emperor catches you tryin' to go out there, he'll know somethin's up. I'll go."

Kotal was proud that Erron would do such a thing, "A wise idea, Erron. Tell me how it goes."

"You got it," the mercenary said while he took off. Kotal stood by the gate and said, "I'm going to pay that man handsomely when I get back into my throne."

Fujin's next and last stop was Edenia so he could meet with Shao Kahn. Fujin took extra precaution when it came to going to this realm, the last time he was there it was still a war torn mess. When he arrived he was pleasantly surprised to see the once great Edenian Palace was nearly rebuilt.

Like the others he had little faith in the Elder Gods' plan yet it seemed to be working so far. The wind god greeted King Kahn, "Shao Kahn, you know why I'm here."

"The Elder Gods told me," Shao Kahn confirmed, "you want me to head to Earthrealm so that I can strike Raiden down."

"Sadly you are correct. It is the reason you were brought back from purgatory after all."

Shao Kahn motioned to a nearby seat, "Come. Let us discuss some things."

Fujin obliged and sat down. Shao Kahn began, "The Elder Gods have told me that Liu Kang was slain. A pity, I was really looking forward to paying him back."

"This is not about revenge," the god of wind reminded him, "this is about saving all the realms from Raiden's madness."

Shao Kahn grinned evilly, "Why can't it be about both?" He then gestured to the rest of the room, "Do you like what I've done with this realm, Fujin?"

"I'm surprised at how you've fixed it up to say the least."

"Don't be," the king said in conceit, "it's no surprise that I'm the only one who could whip this realm back into shape."

Fujin half-heartedly replied, "Mmm…" Soon he remembered why he was there, "Oh I nearly forgot, I will be your escort to Outworld. This is where the tournament will be held and it is where you'll kill Raiden. There is one problem there, though…"

"What is it?"

"It's Onaga," Fujin warned, "he's returned from the dead."

Shao Kahn flexed confidently, "Don't be so afraid. Back when I poisoned him I couldn't take him on in a straight fist fight…now things have changed. I am much stronger now."

The wind god saw through Shao Kahn's ego, "You shouldn't be so sure that you can take him! For now, you have to worry about Raiden. The Dragon King can be dealt with later."

Their conversation was halted as one of the Edenian guards ran into the room with an old man in his arms.

"Lord Kahn," the soldier called out, "we found this presumed hermit passed out in Jade's Desert. You'll never believe what we found on him."

The guard revealed five of the six Kamidogu. Both Fujin and Kahn were baffled to see the Kamidogu in the hands of this frail looking old traveler. Shao Kahn quickly snatched the Kamidogu up, "Where's the Netherrealm Kamidogu?"

"He doesn't have it," the guard answered, "it must still be out there somewhere." Shao Kahn rubbed his chin, "These five Kamidogu still have a use to us."

Shao Kahn was right, as near invulnerable daggers the Kamidogu were already powerful weapons but each one had their own special ability. The only missing one, the Netherrealm Kamidogu, can corrupt even the purest. The Edenian Kamidogu could purify the corrupted, the Chaos Realm Kamidogu could make someone lose their mind, the Seidou Kamidogu could make the insane sane, the Outworld Kamidogu could deliver eternal life, and the Earthrealm Kamidogu could take that life away. Each one counteracted each other just as the realms counteract each other. It was said untold power would come to those who found all six of them along with Quan-Chi's Medallion.

Shao Kahn's eyes glimmered greedily as he held the Kamidogu in his hands, "This…this is true power. I can feel it rushing through me…the power…"

Fujin shot out a gust of wind, knocking the five powerful daggers out of Shao Kahn's hands, "You are not ready to possess such power! It will corrupt you more than you can possibly imagine!"

Suddenly the old man awoke from his slumber, "Wha…where are the Kamidogu?!"

"They belong to me now," Shao Kahn boasted. Fujin disagreed, "They belong to nobody!" The old man flipped back up, "No, they belong to the Elder Gods! I, Shujinko, I was sent by their messenger, Damashi, to gather all of them…yet Damashi vanished and left me without guidance. I am the Elder Gods' Champion!"

The Edenian king laughed when he heard the old man's story, "You're no Champion of the Elder Gods! I am the Champion of the Elder Gods!"

"You are not," Shujinko denied, "I know who you are, Shao Kahn. You would never be chosen as their champion."

Shao Kahn whistled, calling in Moloch. Moloch growled at Shujinko. Fujin shook his head, "If you are the Champion, I have not heard the Elder Gods say anything about you. I'm sorry, but I think you're a pawn in someone's game."

Shujinko roundhouse kicked the wind god right in the face, "I am no pawn!" Moloch tackled the false Champion onto the ground. Shao Kahn's guards quickly grabbed him by the arms.

"Take that madman to the dungeon," Shao Kahn demanded, "He's clearly delusional!"

Shujinko yelled at Shao Kahn, "You have little idea of what you're toying with! The Elder Gods will have your head."

Shao Kahn waved him off with a smile, "Whatever you say old man." The guards dragged him to the dungeon. Shao Kahn picked the Kamidogu up, "The power of these artifacts within my hands…"

Fujin got back up, "Wait…the Edenian Kamidogu can purify the corrupted. Yes, we can save Raiden from his madness with that!"

Shao Kahn sneered at Fujin, "No! I will kill Raiden and nothing will stop me! Revenge will be mine!"

"I told you this isn't about revenge," Fujin reminded, "it's about what's best for everyone!"

"I won't help if I don't get my revenge," Shao Kahn said to him, "I'm in this to kill Raiden and nothing more."

Fujin snatched the Edenian Kamidogu from Shao Kahn, "We don't need your help anymore." He grabbed the other Kamidogu as well, "I guess you really can't change. Farewell, Shao Kahn." Fujin vanished in a cyclone leaving Shao Kahn alone in his throne room.

Shao Kahn screamed in frustration, "Bah! I will head to Earthrealm and kill him myself! Raiden will be no more!"

Ermac rushed in, "We heard you scream, what's the matter?" Shao Kahn started marching out of the throne room, "I'm heading to Earthrealm, Ermac. I leave you in charge in my leave."

"Really…? You want us to lead Edenia?"

Shao Kahn nodded, "Only while I'm gone. I'll return sometime soon. I'm going to Earthrealm to kill Raiden myself."

"Are you sure you don't need us to come with you," the construct asked.

"I'm sure," Shao Kahn reaffirmed, "this is something I want to do by myself." Shao Kahn left his creation alone in the throne room. Ermac paced around the room worriedly, "How…how do we lead this place?"

He sat in Shao Kahn's throne and considered what to do, "This will be very difficult." He started to meditate in the throne for maximum concentration. Ermac hardly knew how to be a person, let alone a leader of many. How could he take Shao Kahn's place, even if only temporarily?

Waiting in the shadows just outside of the throne room was Noob Saibot. Noob clenched his fist, "Fujin has the Kamidogu now…looks like I'll have Scorpion take a trip to Earthrealm now."

Ermac opened his eyes, "We sense a great evil nearby." Noob knew that Ermac sensed him and as he was about to vanish, Ermac grabbed him with telekinesis.

"What are you doing here," Ermac demanded to know.

Noob chuckled, "That isn't what you should be concerned with." The grip on Noob's body grew tighter, "We think it is! Tell us why you're here!"

Noob snapped his fingers, causing two other Brotherhood of Shadow members to rise up with the still catatonic Jade in their grasp. "I'm not what you should be concerned with," Noob reiterated, "Now let me go."

Ermac only squeezed tighter, "Let her go!"

"Let me go first," Noob demanded, "if you do, she won't be hurt. If you don't, I can't make any promises of her fate."

The two Brotherhood cultists placed a kunai against Jade's throat. Again Noob taunted him, "What's it going to be, Ermac? Are you really going to let us kill her?"

Ermac relented and let Noob go, "No…just leave her alone." Noob nodded, "I'm a man of my word. You've made a wise choice."

The zealots tossed Jade over and Ermac caught her. Noob waved Ermac off, "I'll be seeing you two again, count on it." Noob sank into a tar-like liquid along with the two Brotherhood cultists. Ermac held Jade gingerly, "Her heart's still beating so they didn't do anything to her."

Again he heard her voice call out to him as he held her yet he could not contact her back. He took her into the throne room, hoping to find a way to awaken his friend.

Author's Note: I would like to thank everybody for the kind reception thus far. I know I say this a lot, but it really does mean a lot. I'm not one to ask for reviews but I'm glad when I get them. Things are indeed getting more interesting and from here they will spiral out of control (more than they have already). But I bring bad news too, I am also here to inform you that as of right now, updates for this and the rest of my stories will come to a temporary halt. I just wanted to let you know so nobody thinks I'm abandoning these stories, it's just the internet is such a fussy thing. So easy to lose, which is what's happening. Thank you for understanding.