Unexpected Company

Hushed and frightened whispers broke out amongst the audience as the two wraiths made their way across the room.

"And who do you fight for?" Kotal asked. He was sure no matter what, he wouldn't like the answer.

"We swore a vow once to a previous Emperor of Outworld." Scorpion began. Kotal did not like where this was going." And now his spawn are fighting to take back this throne." His pupil less eyes shifted and turned towards Mileena.

And under his gaze she suddenly felt giddy with her heart acting as if it might jump out of her chest. With a small laughter she readjusted herself, standing up straight and running her hand through her hair.

Scorpion rolled his eyes and turned away from her. And as he did he noticed Reptile standing by himself.

"Where is she lizard?" He pointed a finger at him." Or do you side with him?" He moved his pointed finger to Kotal.

"Never." Reptile replied." Empress Kitana has gone to the Infirmary with the injured Sub Zero."

"Sub Zero?" Noob Saibot questioned as he raised his head." Kuai Lang?"

"Then we will act in their place." Scorpion said motioning to himself and Noob Saibot." Put forth whatever challenger you wish." He pointed an angry finger at Kotal Kahn." And we will beat them down." Kotal was surely getting tired of these sudden appearances. He thought it had been a gift from above when Ermac was defeated but now two more enemies suddenly appeared before him. He was so angry his hand was digging into the armrest of his throne.

"Emperor." Said a voice by his side. It could only be D'vorah now that Erron Black was on." This one is tired of these unwelcomed guests. Give us permission to end this tournament once and for all."

"No D'vorah." He said with a shake of his head. He had sacrificed many warriors for the sake of this tournament, he was running out of allies. Besides he had a trick up his sleeve." Send in the beast."

D'vorah smiled from ear to ear and singled over to the guards. The men opened the nearest door and a creature unlike any other in Outworld walked in. The beast originally meant for Kitana.

"You want to fight?" Kotal questioned." Here is your opponent." He pointed to the incoming beast. There was a giant as big as a shokan with a tiny rider perched on his shoulders.

"A dwarf and a giant?" Noob questioned." No." His strange white eyes opened as wide as they could. "A little girl? Riding the back of a giant, what a peculiar sight this is." He put his hand on Scorpion's shoulder." This is me." He moved across the room getting the attentions of Kotal Kahn, Mileena, Skarlet and mostly Ferra.

"You make trouble?" Ferra questioned from the back of her giant in a harsh and broken voice." Trouble make you."

"Oh now you've got me frightened." Noob said with mock fear.

"Noob Saibot versus Ferr Torr, FIGHT!" The Kahn commanded.

And the name 'Noob Saibot' echoed from the throne room, down the halls and into the infirmary. And with the name went an ire cold air with it. And when the echo made it's way into his ear and even though he was warm and comfortable in Kitana's arms he couldn't help but go cold.

After all this time Bi Han had shown himself again.

And with a cry from Ferra, Torr lumbered forward stretching his arms out. He curled his hands into a fist and swung down at Noob. The wraith simply stood there and took the hit, then a second to the stomach. Bone crushing punch after punch came at him and he took them all.

Kotal Kahn was pleased with the sight. He didn't need any more enemies to deal with, not now after he'd lost both Tremor and Erron Black.

With another punch Torr knocked Noob off his feet and crashing onto his back. Torr moved forward and hovered over him. Then he raised both his massive arms into the air and brought them slamming down. Then a second time, then a third, until Noob Saibot was nothing more than a bloody black puddle on the floor. Until there was no doubt who the winner was.

"Good boy Torr!" Ferra patted him on the head. Kotal raised his hand and prepared to declare a winner.

"Is that all?" a dark voice chuckled. And the black puddle began to merge and take form. Turning back into Noob Saibot." Is that all you've got?" He said holding out his arms. A dark chuckle accompanied his sentences. A chuckle to make anyone's blood run cold.

Now it was Noob's turn to attack. He leapt across the battlefield and landed a punch on Torr's face, sending the giant staggering back. He followed up with another strike to the face, then turning and kicking him across the face.

But Torr was not the only fighter. Ferra jumped out from around his shoulder and with her gauntlet knifes stabbed at Noob.

And she plunged them forward and into his unnatural white eyes. But the second she pulled them out his face took shape and reformed again. He reached out and grabbed onto Ferra's gauntleted arm.

"Little girls shouldn't play with knives." He said. Then he guided her arm down and stabbed it into the giant's shoulder. The Beast let out a roar as Noob took a step back. Ferra pulled the knife from his shoulder and returned to her original place on his back.

"Get him Torr!" she commanded pointing forward. The giant lumbered forward swinging both his great arms up and above Noob.

But he put up both his arms and blocked both of Torr's as they came crashing down on him. But while he stood there the Saibot clone appeared from Noob's own chest. He reached out and put his hands over Torr's face. Digging one thumb into Torr's visible eye and on the other side of his head where he assumed a second eye was. If not there was just a second hole, either way Torr was now blind.

He stumbled back roaring and flailing his arms in pain. Now it was up to Ferra to be his eyes. She pulled on Torr's reins and urged him forward. But both blind and dumb Noob easily managed to evade his swinging arms to lung in and punch Torr in the stomach. Then a second time, then a third.

With another great punch Torr stumbled back. Another sent him back even more. And with one last punch he cracked the giant in the jaw, knocking him unconscious and onto his back. But while the powerhouse Torr was out of the fight Ferra wasn't. And to Noob that meant this fight wasn't over.

Kitana and Kaui arrived at that very moment. With Kitana supporting him they moved into the throne room. In just enough time to see Noob Saibot about to claim victory.

Torr was on the ground and unable to move but Ferra was trapped under her partner's head and unable to move it no matter how much she struggled.

"Two for the price of one." Noob said as he hovered over them. He held out his hand and out of black fire came a large battle ax twice the size of his own body. The frightened girl looked up in horror above her." This must be my lucky day." He said raising it above his head.

"No Bi Han!" Kuai yelled from the door." No!" But despite his protest Noob did as he wanted and brought his battle ax down cutting both Ferra and Torr in two.

The damage had been done and the Elder Sub Zero had claimed two new victims.

"Bi Han!" yelled a voice. Heads turned and bodies parted as Kaui managed to stand on his own and limp to meet his brother. But beneath that mask Bi Han only smiled at the pitiful sight of his brother coming at him." How could you?" Kaui questioned as he moved towards him." She was only a little girl!" But even at full strength Kaui could not frighten Noob. How could he now mask less, his body wrapped up, bruises and marks all over his body?

Noob Saibot removed the great ax from his victims and then stabbed it into the ground.

"Oh little brother." he said." Look at you. All grown up now?" He brought his hand up and poked Kaui right in his unprotected right eye.

"Ah!" Kaui jolted back holding his eye. Luckily he jumped back right into Kitana who caught him. He never noticed it before when he had the Dragon Medallion but she had a fierce strength, probably better than his own now.

"You're Highness." Noob said with an over exaggerated bow as she approached them.

"Elder Sub Zero?" she questioned.

"Yes." He nodded." And No." He added with a chuckle. Kitana shifted her attention between the brothers. As she did Scorpion came and moved alongside Noob Saibot.

"Empress." He said getting her attention.

"D'vorah!" Kotal turned to her. She was the last warrior he had, his last chance at this tournament." Kill them!"

"With pleasure." She answered. She turned and began walking towards them." Wraith!" she yelled. Both Noob and Scorpion turned to face her." Face me!" Noob took a step forward and prepared for another bout. But Scorpion stuck out his arm, stopping him.

"I'll take this one." He said before stepping forward.

"I'd hate to have all the fun." Noob said. Scorpion ignored him and walked out to meet D'vorah. But in doing so he would have to pass Mileena.

"Oh" she said upon seeing him. Nervously she began rubbing her hands together as she bounced up and down." Here he comes, Here he comes." She muttered to Skarlet. Her mute assassin just stood back as Mileena continued to bounce up and down.

Then like a shadow, grim as death Scorpion walked past her. He hadn't even glanced at her and seemed unaware of her presence but Mileena only jumped with more excitement after he passed.

Scorpion now came to the middle of the room with D'vorah only a few feet before him.

"Prepare to take your last breaths." D'vorah warned. But she did not appear to frighten Scorpion as he said nothing. His way was a quiet way. But that quiet was full of anger.

Slowly he moved both his arms back and towards the hilts of both swords poking out from his back. But D'vorah would not give him the chance. Before he could she lunged forward, the long prong growing out from her right shoulder and stabbing at him.

But Scorpion had managed to draw one of his blades and blocked the extra limb as it came at him. She quickly grew another from the other side of her back and attacked with that only for Scorpion to block once again with his sword.

D'vorah now moved in closer swinging a punch at his face which he dodge by tilting to the other side. But in the close a space they were now the prongs were able to strike at him from above. And they did stabbing at Scorpion from above while D'vorah tried to punch him.

With one hand on his sword he blocked the prong stabs from above while he blocked her with the other. Then after he had avoided another punch Scorpion put his hand out and right in front of her chest. And when his hand stared to turn red and the air started to heat up it meant only one thing was coming, Hellfire.

Scorpion opened his hand and fired point blank into D'vorah's chest hoping to burn a hole right through her. And for a moment he thought he had until he looked forward to see a hole through the wall across the room.

Looking up he saw D'vorah's prongs had other uses that for attacking as they supported her up into the air, avoiding his fire ball entirely. D'vorah then swung out and with both legs kicked Scorpion in the face, sending him flat onto his back.

From the ground Scorpion looked up to see D'vorah completely over him and coming straight down. He quickly rolled out of the way as she came stomping down, breaking the ground beneath her.

Still on his back Scorpion swung out his legs and kicked D'vorah across the face, she put out her arm to balance her fall. Then she turned and swung for another punch that Scorpion ducked under. And when he came up he came up swinging with an uppercut right to D'vorah's chin, now sending her onto her back.

Scorpion quickly moved in over her, ready to punch a hole right through her head. But the second he was over her, her stomach opened up and green slime shot up at him. The stuff was blinding and even got in his eyes. He jumped back to avoid another attack but it was already too late.

As a Kytinn D'vorah's entire body was made up stingers, slime, acid and most of all poisons. And the one covering Scorpion was just as deadly as Reptile's acid and would shrink him to the bone in seconds.

"NO!" Mileena yelled as she watched Scorpion covered in the stuff.

But Scorpion's eyes suddenly began to glow and his body followed soon after, erupting in flames. A heat so intense it burned the toxin right off him. But D'vorah had other tricks.

She raised her hand to him and a horde of wasps flew out from under her skin. Then she pointed to Scorpion and they flew at him. But the flames were still too much that even before they got within a foot of the flames they burst into ashes.

Scorpion then raised his hands and all the flames on his body went into his hands. Then he shot his arms forward and blasted D'Vorah with everything he had.

But she simply showcased and took to the air avoiding the wall of fire. And before he could do more she grew the prongs from her back and flew down at him. And Scorpion had little time to react and she stabbed one right through his chest and the other through his head. The heart and brain, the 2 major organs of the body at the end of her sharp limbs.

Kaui and Kitana looked on in shock. Noob Saibot seemed indifferent as to the fate of his traveling companions death. But none seem more upset than Mileena. Kotal Kahn leaned forward in his chair smiling. It had been done at last, things had finally started to turn his way. Or so he thought.

Without warning the supposed lifeless body of Scorpion came to life his hand burning with fire and swinging like a sword, cutting off D'vorah's prongs before kicking her away from him. The green blood of her body spouted from her shorten limbs and onto him.

Then to everyone's surprise Scorpion's body moved it's arm up to it's head. And in one motion he ripped the mask off his head to reveal a burning skull. Like Noob Saibot, Scorpion had been resurrected from the dead and due to the dark magic that made that so he could not die again. But instead live with the torment and memories of pain that he lived in life. And Scorpion took that misery and pain and turned it into rage, the rage of Hellfire.

He moved his hand to his back where his second sword still lay, safe in it's sheath. Scorpion held his sword with both hands. Then all the room watched as the fire burned harder and brighter than any other, surrounding the blade. The fire changed from red to green and finally to blue.

Then Scorpion jumped into the air and came slashing down on D'vorah. And she was too wounded to have avoided him. He came slashing down and caught her from her left shoulder down to the right side of her hip.

D'vorah stayed completely still for a moment. But the following second her body began to tremble. And then the next her upper torso fell completely to the ground while her legs fell backwards.

Scorpion swung down his sword removing the flames. D'vorah herself was dead as a doornail but her body had a little surprise left. Her slashed abdomen began to wiggle and then dozens of small yellow larva came crawling out.

The larva of Kytinn usually stayed inside their mother's body until she found a host to sustain them until they were fully grown.

They began crawling over D'vorah's dead body or across the floor. Those that sprouted wings did that and headed for whatever exit. One had the misfortune to think it could land on Scorpion's arm and try to use him as a host. Before any blood could be drained Scorpion slapped his hand over it, splattering green blood all over his arm.

The others that flew headed outside the windows and into the night. But they were still young and unlikely to survive on their own without a proper host.

Kotal couldn't believe it. The last alley he had in this entire world was flying out the window, but perhaps he wasn't that unfortunate. One of the flying larva turned and flew towards the Emperor.

He reached out his arm and the larva rested itself on his arm. And in this small yellow creature with it's slimy skin and black eyes he could see his advisor D'vorah. But he could see something else in it as well.

"Kombat is concluded." He said raising his hand but keeping his eyes on the creature on his arm. He left the room the same way with it perched to his arm.

Scorpion swung down his sword causing the fire to die out around it but made the blade hiss in the air.

"Darling!" a voice said to him. He turned and before he knew it Empress Mileena was on him, both arms around his neck as she tried to pull herself towards him." You won! You won!" she sang as she tugged at him. Surprisingly calm Scorpion tried to remove her grip from around his neck.

When he pushed her aside he walked over to Noob Saibot. When the duo stood together they turned to Kitana.

"Princess." Scorpion said standing before her. If it was anyone else she might have corrected him but the unnatural color of both their eyes as well as the blood-lust they share stopped her from doing so." We too fought for your Father many years ago." He raised the blade up and along his back before returning it to it's rightful place." And as such we too have a debt to pay." He brought his right arm up and laid it across his chest, bowing his head. The Giant Saibot at his side bowed with him.

"Thank you." Kitana answered nodding her head.

This day had certainly had its fill of bloodshed. Kitana had wanted to win this tournament with the minimal amount of life loss as possible. Kaui's killing of Erron Black was acceptable, he had no other choice. But Noob Saibot and Scorpion had crossed that line. Sure they fought for her and fought her enemies, and had this been at the start of the tournament she would have been delighted. But now things were different.

Kaui was at least appreciative for that.