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Meanwhile far, far away from the life of Bobby Hill was Outworld. The world that he was fighting to protect his home from. The place only spoken of in whispers and nightmares.
Princess Kitana walked through the golden halls of the palace her heels clicking against the ground. But she was not alone, her friend Jade followed her.
"You should not have done that." Jade said." Your father will be most displeased."
"Why? I have done nothing wrong." Kitana replied." My father should be pleased that I took initiative and-"
"He will be furious." Jade interrupted." I-" She stopped as Kitana turned and stared at her sternly." Pardons your grace I-"
"You are forgiven." Kitana interrupted now." Calm yourself Jade, my father won't know. He has no way of knowing."
"There are eyes and ears everywhere." Jade said in a whisper taking a cautious look around. But Kitana looked forward at the large brown doors with demon heads for knobs. On the other side she knew who was waiting. Kitana moved forward to turn the knob and open the door but then it appeared to open on it's own. Torch lite the halls though it was still mostly covered in darkness.
"Enter Kitana." Boomed a deep echo. Kitana did as she was told and entered, taking one last look at Jade as the doors closed behind her. She walked forward and the lights got brighter with each step she took, until finally she could see in front of her.
There was a large iron chair occupied with two people standing on both sides of it, she knew them very well. On the left was the Royal Vazier, Shang Tsung. A snake of a man with a twisted black beard and hair. He stood with his arms crossed behind his back. On the right was Kitana's own sister, Mileena. Similar they were except Mileena wore more loose clothing which was purple. And in the middle, sitting in the throne was her own father. But it was so dark she could only make out his arms resting on the armrest, legs sprawled out and part of his torso. The only other thing she saw were his burning red eyes.
"Father." Kitana addressed him with a bow.
"Where have you been, girl?" He asked. Kitana straightened up. She could tell by the tone of his voice he knew exactly what she'd done.
"I've been in the palace, father." He immediately questioned her again.
"All this time?"
"Yes." She nodded. He fell silent now his large fingers strumming the side of his chair." Am I being accused of something?"
"I'll ask the questions!" He roared slamming his fist. His rage alerted everyone in the room as they stepped back in fear. When he calmed down they calmed down." Your sister has told me you left Outworld and went to Earthrealm, is that true?" Kitana flashed her eyes to her sister, who was shaking with excitement. Nothing pleased Mileena more than seeing her sister suffer.
"No." Kitana replied firmly. " My sister is gravely mistaken." Mileena began to shift and fidget in place with anger and would have lashed out if her father was not there." You have only to ask Jade, I've been with her most of the time."
"There is more." Her father told. He turned to the Sorcerer. Shang Tsung nodded in reply and raised one arm up and waved. The next second there was the sound of footsteps approaching. All watched as the monster Ermac walked into the room. He marched into the room and stopped when Shang Tsung raised his hand. He kept his green eyes on the Sorcerer waiting for new instructions. Shang Tsung looked to his king and once he nodded he turned back to the monster.
"Ermac." He addressed him." Where have you been?"
"The Palace." He replied.
"Do you know where Princess Kitana has been?"
"The Palace." Shang Tsung grumbled a moment and decided now it would be better to cut right to the point.
"Did Princess Kitana take you to Earthrealm." The monster could not lie to his creator.
"Yes." Kitana's eyes bugged open in shock. Her father and sister rolled their heads over to her.
"What did you do there?"
"We confronted Black Dragon." He replied mechanically.
"Why?"
"The Princess said we had to get better control of our assets."
Her father now rose up from his throne and stomped down towards her, finally appearing in the light. Mileena beamed, Shang Tsung averted his eyes and Kitana cringed as her father raised his hand. But then to everyone's surprise he brought it down and patted her on the shoulder.
"Well done daughter." He said.
"T-Thank you father." She said, still shock by the overall outcome.
"You are to keep track of these Black Dragon." He said turning his back to her and marching back into his throne." And you will inform me if anything occurs, understand?"
"Yes, father."
"Good, your dismissed." He waved a hand in the air. Kitana did a slight curtsie and exited while Mileena just walked away grumbling. Shang Tsung said nothing as he walked away with Ermac following him." Not you." He said stopping them. When Shang Tsung stopped and turned around Ermac stopped in his place." I have a mission for your monster." Shang Tsung turned his head and looked at Ermac, who stood there still.
Meanwhile back in Arlen Texas.
The Special Forces were standing over a crater that had not only a spaceship but a man from another universe. They were silent as they looked each other and the outsider before them.
Bobby was the first one to hear sirens in the distance.
"You hear that?" he said aloud. Now everyone listened.
"Quick." Said Sonya jumping into the crater." We've got to move."
"What? Why?" asked Bobby.
"If word gets out about this, the public will learn about other worlds. Quick grab him we've got to move."
"But I-"
"Look we have no time to argue. We can only move, I'll explain everything later." The sirens wailed again only this time closer. Bobby wrapped his arms around the Fox man's torso and dragged him up and out of the crater and put him in the back of Hank's truck. Then Bobby jumped into the driver's seat/
Both were cautious again as the sirens were heard closer now and in the distance they could see the flashing lights. They only had the pilot but would have liked to take the ship, however there was no room and no time.
So Bobby put the pedal to the metal and drove off. But on their way out they passed a familiar looking police car with two familiar looking police. Bobby gave a nervous smile and wave to Joseph and Stryker who only grimaced in response.
"Put your hand down." Sonya said swatting his hand to the ground.
Bobby rolled his eyes. He looked in the rear view mirror to see their passenger shifting from side to side in the backseat." So where are we taking him?" He pointed over his shoulder.
"Back to base."
"And where is-" He turned and looked at her meeting a very quizzical look on her face. That's when it hit him. They'd be returning to the 'new' Special Forces Base." Oh no we can't-"
"To bad we are." She turned away from him.
"But what about my parents, what if they find out. Or what if-"
"Just drive Hill!" she commanded.
"Okay." He said giving up and turning his full attention to driving.
Despite the beating their car had taken Joseph and Stryker were some of the first police on the scene. However there were other first responders. The two exited their car and prepared to inspect the scene but found a lot of green trucks and uniformed men running around.
"Hold on." Said a large black man stopping the two." This is a restricted zone. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"We are the law." Stryker said motioning to himself and Joseph." We're here to investigate."
"Your operation has been handed over to the Military, Officer." As they spoke Joseph looked past them to see a large space-ship like structure being loaded into one of the trucks." So Once again I'll have to ask you both to leave."
Stryker grimaced with annoyance since this was the second time today the military had kept him from doing his job.
Meanwhile Bobby and Sonya drove back to the Hill residence and parked the truck in the driveway. From there they stashed the stiff in the garage, keeping him hidden under Hank's workbench with only a tarp keeping him from being seen. From there they exited the garage locking the door behind him.
Then they started walking into the living room. They were going to depart there with Sonya going to her room and Bobby walking over to the sofa. His father was already there with the remote in his hand and Ladybird at his feet.
"Hey Dad." Bobby said walking over to him." When's dinner going to be ready?"
"About an hour." Said Hank stilling looking at the tv. He stopped with the remote when he came to the news.
"This is Channel 84 news with the biggest thing to hit Arlen since last year's hurricane." Told Nancy Hicks Gribble on the screen. Hank and Bobby leaned into listen." There was a strange crash landing today." A short video showed of some kind of flying craft falling from the sky and crashing in the distance." Police are on the scene and beginning to investigate." But the tv showed very few police and a lot more Military-like personnel on the scene.
"Huh well how do you like that." Said Hank scratching Ladybird's ear. But Bobby was concerned and he turned back to face Sonya who shared the same thoughts. The entire point of their operation was to keep this knowledge from the public and even people like Dale knowing was bad for business. So now the clock was ticking, the sooner they had this sorted out the better.
Now it was time for the operation to continue. The stood around in with dim lighting around the pilot. Sonya tossed a bucket full of water on him. And the second the water touched him he was jolted awake. But imagine both his surprise and fright when he woke up to see himself surrounded and tied to a chair. He tried to jerk himself free but found it wouldn't work.
His attention was called to Sonya when she stepped in front of him.
"Who are you?!" she commanded shining the light in his face." And where do you come from?"
"Ah! Easy with that thing!" he cried closing his eyes. Sonya took the light away and spoke once more. She'd done this sort of things dozens of times before and knew how to get people to talk. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small knife showcasing it for her prisoner. Seeing the knife the humanoid man seemed to know what was coming and perked up.
But Bobby was probably the only one who didn't feel right about this. His father had taught him it's not kind to beat on someone while they were down, and this was very similar to that. And he knew now this man or animal, whatever he was must be frightened so yelling at him probably wouldn't have helped. Bobby thought back to when he his plan had crashed back in Afghanistan. "Who are you and where do you come from?!" asked Sonya again.
"My name is Fox McCloud. I-"
"What are you doing here?!" Sonya yelled before he could say anymore.
"I don't know. I got lost and I-"
"What are you doing here?!" She yelled this time." How'd you get here!"
"Please." Pleaded Fox." I mean no harm, I got lost and I-"
"Shut up!" Sonya roared at him. She shined the light right in his eyes, forcing him to look away. Bobby thought this was enough and decided now to step in before things got worse. He walked up and stood between Sonya and Fox.
"Hey um.. Let's lighten up on him a bit, huh." He said.
"Stand down Hill." Ordered Sonya." Leave this to the professionals."
"I'm a professional here." Bobby said. He turned and began undoing the rope around Fox. And despite any protest Sonya made Bobby defied her and kept what he was doing until the rope was on the floor and Fox was free.
Once he was Fox he positioned himself and feeling at his wrists. He lifted his head to look up at Bobby, the only one in here who had the decency to give him back his humanity.
"Thank you, Mister-"
"Hill, Bobby Hill." Fox nodded.
"Bobby Hill." He glanced over Bobby to see Sonya in the room." I'm more than willing to act civilized." He said holding his hands up in a passive manner." If you will be. I'm just about as confused as you are." There was some grumbling from Sonya but a moment later Bobby turned on the lights and they all stood and talked openly in the Hill's garage. Fox crossed his legs, now much calmer." Now what is it you'd like to know?"
"Who are you and where do you come from?" asked Sonya keeping her stern voice.
"My name is Fox McCloud like I have said already. I'm from Corneria in the Lylat System. I don't really know how I came to end up in your world here, but the last thing I remember I was trying to race out of a black hole when-"
"You flew into a black hole?!" exclaimed Bobby.
"Not me myself." Fox admitted." I was in my spaceship." That's when he suddenly remembered and he shot up." MY SHIP!" But his sudden outburst was a surprise and Sonya reacted as such pulling her gun out from her hip and holding it in Fox's face." Easy, easy." He said to her in a softer voice.
"Sit down." She pointed to the chair. Fox did as she instructed." Your ship was most likely confiscated and taken to the nearest Army Base." Fox rested his head in his hand.
"Then that's where I'll have to go I-" But then his and everyone else's attentions were brought to the sound of a knob turning.
"Someone's coming!" shrieked Bobby." Hide!" And for that split second before the door opened the entire garage was thrown into chaos. Fox ducked and slid across the floor and back under Hank's workbench. Bobby took a quick seat down on his father's lawnmower while Sonya went to the fridge and pulled out two beers throwing him one before sitting on his lap in the lawnmower.
When the door opened up fully and Hank stepped in he saw the two people sitting around laughing.
"H-Hey Dad." Bobby said trying to sound normal.
"Bobby!" Hank said as he marched into the room and confronted his son." What do you think you're doing?" Before Bobby could say anything Hank snatched the can of beer from his hand.
"I-I-I" stammered Bobby.
"It's my fault ." said Sonya leaned into the conversation." I thought it would be okay if Bobby had some." She leaned in and forced Hank to take a step back as she rusted her head against Bobby's.
"Well um." Hank stammered a few seconds, his face almost as red as his son's." Just uh don't let it happen again." Hank cleared his throat and prepared to walk out of the room. He was so embarrassed he forgot to address the fact that they were sitting on his lawn mower.
The second the door shut everyone jumped to their feet and Fox crawled out from under the workbench. It was now that he stood up that Bobby saw how tall he was, almost as tall as Bobby himself.
"Now you were saying." Said Bobby crossing his arm.
"My ship." Said Fox continuing." It's my only way of getting back home. Will you help me?" There was a short silence and Bobby broke it.
"Yes." He answered." We can get you onto the base." He pointed to Sonya and himself." From there we just have to narrow our search."
"Thank you!" said Fox taking Bobby's hand and shaking it." Thank you both." He looked back at Sonya.
"Hold on a minute." Said Sonya." You still haven't answered our questions. What about Outworld, what do you know of it?" Fox looked at her like she had three heads.
"Outworld?" he asked confused. Then needless to say the investigation ended there and no matter how much anyone would pry Fox's answer was always the same. So now they turned their attention to their new mission, helping Fox back home. The two could agree he couldn't remain in their world, so the sooner he left the better off anyone would be. So then it was decided they'd move the next morning.
Fox was set up with a place to sleep in the garage, he didn't mind thought. As he pointed out in conversation he had been a soldier once too and sleeping on a cold, concrete floor wasn't the worst thing he'd slept on.
Bobby left the garage once he was sure Fox was set up. But when he opened the door he saw Sonya sitting on the sofa watching tv. Bobby didn't want to disturb her and cautiously tried to maneuver around her.
"You did well today." She said aloud, not turning to look at him.
"T-Thank you." He replied.
She continued." And you made the right choice with McCloud." Bobby was now picking up on the way Sonya spoke and no matter how spiteful she made it sound he knew she'd just complimented him.
"Thanks." He said again.
"You should get some sleep." She said next." We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
"Yes ma'am." Bobby said just on pure instinct. Then he turned and did exactly as she had suggested.
