Gather for the Tournament

Shao Khan had called 'Mortal Kombat' and the rumble in the skies meant the Elder Gods agreed. Now it was time to gather the warriors for the Tournament, the Gods would see it done.

Just then the skies grew black and thunder rumbled in the skies above. Everyone looked up, the strange storm came out of nowhere with no sign of it's coming. But everyone was even more shocked when they looked up and saw a figure take form in the clouds above.

"Mortals!" called the man in the clouds. Thunder roared in his voice and lightning in his eyes.

"Who is that?" questioned Bobby in confusion. But nobody had any answer.

"Shao Khan has called the Mortal Kombat tournament." The man in the sky continued." He challenges you to face him and his warriors in the fight to save your homeland." A murmur broke out in the ground below amongst the people.

"If there's going to be fighting let them come here." Said Neji." We'll beat them back as we have before." And everyone seemed in agreement at that.

"The Tournament has been called!" Thunder clapped like an earthquake in the sky." Put forth your best warriors!" And his command forced the mortals to listen to him.

Sonya turned to Jax. They didn't belong in this world and they knew that. Outworld and Shao Khan was their true enemy, so undoubtedly they would go. They would live in the house of their enemy and understand them better, they'd partake in the tournament but would get out if things got to heated.

So together Sonya and Jax stepped up. The God in the sky nodded his head, happy to see he was being listened to. Fox McCloud stepped up as well. He was in the same boat and he'd have to find some way to get home. Even Naruto, reluctant to leave his friends walked side by side with Fox. He would leave his friends behind but he too wanted to explore this enemies home world.

"Is this all?" asked the voice in the sky. Sonya turned and looked around and she wasn't surprised to see Bobby missing. She turned around and saw the crowd of people, no doubt he was at the back of it. She left the line of four and pushed her way through the crowd to find Bobby cowering in the corner.

Without a word she bent over, grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him to his feet. Then dragged him back to the line, turning their four into five now. Bobby didn't struggle but he did pout his annoyance. He just wanted to go home. What he didn't realize was if Sonya and Jax left him behind he'd be worse off.

Sonya dragged him up and stood him in line. With her one his left, Fox McCloud on his right, Jax and Naruto on both ends.

"Is this all?" asked the man in the sky. Silence was his answer and the nods of the five in line. So he raised his hand and bolts of lightning shot down from the sky. Five in total, five to carry the kombatants to their destination. One second they were there and the next gone.

Meanwhile in Arlen Texas.

The crisis was over. Dale had been returned home much to the enjoyment of his wife, friends and neighbors. Joseph was happier than all of them. And Stryker just sat back in his police care watching as Dale was surrounded by friends and family alike. He smiled and knowing his duty was done returned to his car and prepared to leave.

Joseph noticed him leaving and quickly left the crowd to go to him.

"Hey, dude where are you going?" He asked poking his head inside the open window on the passenger's side door.

"My duty is done here. I've got to head back to the Station now."

"Thanks." Joseph said." For helping me." Stryker nodded his head.

"That's what partners are for." Stryker replied. Just then a voice over the radio got both their attentions.

"All units be advised, there's some suspicious activity down by the train tracks. Some strange looking figures all-"

"Those could be the guys would abducted by Dad!" Joseph pointed to the radio. In truth it was a longshot but he was still gun-ho and wanted vengeance in one form or another.

"Let's go check it out." Stryker nodded.

"Mom, Dad!" Joseph called as he jumped into the car from the window." I'm going into work!" Then the police car rolled off down the street.

Meanwhile in the lair of the Black Dragon.

Kabal, Kobra and Kira had managed to regroup at their hideaway. Though all of them had seen better days. Kabal sat in his chair, hissing from his mask with his head resting in one hand. Kobra and Kira stood several feet away watching, waiting for him to say something. After a long silence Kobra finally stepped up.

"Um Grand-Grandmaster?" Kabal shifted his head slightly to look at him." W-What'll we do now?" But Kabal had no answer. And then right at that moment to make matters worse as a light flashed in the room. A portal opened and with it came four people, four women.

"Uh No." Kabal groaned as he put his entire hand over his face. Kobra and Kira back away as the two princesses and their bodyguards walked deeper into the room.

"Get in." Kitana pointed to the portal behind her.

"Um." Kobra stammered.

"No time to argue, move." Said Jade as she and Skarlet moved behind Kobra and Kira and pushed them through the portal. Kitana looked over to see Kabal sitting in his seat.

"And you to." She pointed to him. Kabal picked his head up and straightened himself out slightly.

"No." He spoke up.

"No?" Kitana repeated. She knew this a very last minute thing so confusion was understandable but she would not be undermined.

"No." Kabal said again." I'm not going-AH!" He yelled as Mileena appeared behind him. She put both hands on his shoulders and began running forward. Then with all her might she tossed him forward and into the portal.

Then she stood there before her sister.

"What?" she asked with a hiss when she noticed the look on Kitana's face. Kitana rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers. Jade and Skarlet then jumped into the portal. Mileena skipped and hopped around to Kitana's right.

"You seem tense sister." She hissed in her ear. Kitana snapped her fingers once more, implying she now wanted Mileena to go into the portal.

Little did they know that their stalling would cost them. For outside at that very moment arrive Joseph and Stryker. They had time to change into proper police gear, now armed and dangerous they approached the area mentioned on the radio. They kicked in the door and shouted 'Police' only there was no one in the room. So quickly they began entering the other rooms.

But it was as they were scanning these other rooms that they saw something strange. Standing them. Simply thinking the two thought they'd walked in one some kind of prostitution ring.

The two nodded to each other and then jumped into the room.

"Freeze!" shouted Styker." Put your hands up!" Kitana and Mileena turned and faced the two men.

"Wow!" Joseph exclaimed as he looked the two over.

"Put your hands on your head-" Stryker said.

"Yea, put 'em up." Joseph added." And dance around." Stryker rolled his eyes at his younger partner. Kitana and Mileena glanced at each other and the reacted.

Mileena pulled out one of her sais and flung it across the room. Joseph ducked as the weapon flew over his head. Stryker took cover but then aimed and fired at them. However neither of them moved, Kitana simply whipped out her fan. But she was surprised when her fan didn't stop the bullets and instead shot two holes into it. With wide eyes she turned and saw Stryker and Bobby advancing, her sister several inches before her ready to fight.

But these men were armed with weaponry that defeated their own so Kitana though it best to retreat. Besides they done what they came here to do.

"Come sister, let's go!" Kitana said as she grabbed Mileena by the back of her outfit and yanked her back.

"Hey wait!" Stryker yelled. But he was too late as Kitana and Mileena disappeared into the portal." Damn it!'

"Oh!" Joseph groaned." It didn't even get a chance to ask them for their numbers." Stryker slowly turned to Joseph with a look of confused disgust on his face. But he'd still have his chance.

The portal began to close but along with that came a roaring wind, and that wind began pulling the two officers towards it.

"No!No! Stryker yelled as he tried to run away.

"OH Dude!" yelled Joseph. But neither could outrun the wind that only grew stronger and stronger. Soon the two were picked up off their feet and sucked into the portal."DUDE!" Joseph yelled as the portal closed leaving the last glimpse of Arlen behind.

The next thing Joseph knew he had a very soft landing in what appeared to be a large castle. He sat upright and looked around at the stone walls illuminated by torches.

"Wow! What is this place?"

"Joseph." Grumbled a voice under him. The young Gribble looked down to see his soft landing was due to his landing on Stryker.

"Oh hey dude. What are you doing down there?"

"Get off me you idiot!" Stryker roared. Casually and at his own pace Joseph stretched his legs out to the ground and stood up. A moment later Stryker stood up next to him." Where the hell are we?"

"Beats me." Stryker began looking around, though he couldn't make any sense of the situation either. But luckily they were about to get some company.

Five lightning bolts touched down next to them. Now that was strange enough, lightning bolts indoors but after it struck five people appeared. And some of them the police officers knew very well.

Bobby had arrived in Outworld with Sonya, Jax, Fox and Naruto.

"Oh God, Oh God, Oh God." Bobby muttered with his head sunk back into his shirt like a turtle.

"Quiet." Sonya turned her head and spoke to him harshly.

"So what is this place?" asked Naruto as he looked around.

"Outworld most likely." Jax said stepping up.

"I want to go home I want to go home." Muttered Bobby.

"Easy there Bob." Said Fox as he put on arm around his shoulders." We'll be alright." Just then Bobby's attention was called to a familiar voice calling his name.

Turing around he looked over and there of all people was Joseph running towards them.

"Joseph!" Bobby shrieked as he came and stood before him." W-What are you doing here!"

"Oh Dude it was crazy!" Joseph began, talking as fast as an engine." We were in that car chase, and there was this gun fight. And my Dad got abducted, and there were these babes and-" It was now that he turned and noticed Sonya, and he remembered her of course. He took a step away from Bobby and towards her." Hey." He said in an effort to sound smooth.

"Colorful friend you've got there." Fox whispered to Bobby.

"You!" roared a different voice this time. Everyone turned over and watched as Stryker marched over to Sonya." You! I was hoping to run into you again!" Stryker was still outraged from the last time he'd met Sonya and now he was ready to sort out business. He reached to his belt and pulled out his nightstick. Sonya in turn spread her legs apart and put her fists up.

"No!" Bobby said jumping in front of her." We don't have to fight."

"Move aside Hill." Sonya said. But everyone else began moving between the two, stalling the fight.

"You there!" roared another voice, a voice that didn't come from anyone in the group. They looked up as a fierce looking creature with large, sharp teeth spilling from his mouth along with burning orange eyes marched towards them." You are not of Outworld, what are you doing here?!"

"What the hell is that?" Bobby said as he hid behind Sonya.

"Obviously not a friend." Said Naruto.

"He's a Tarkatan." Jax told." A species that lives in Outworld." The Tarkatan stood his ground as two long blades began to grow out of his forearms.

"My blades will find your heart!" he roared.

"Baraka Halt!" roared a new voice. The Takatan halted in his steps and turned his head to the staircase above. Everyone else followed his gaze to see Shang Tsung standing with his arms crossed behind his back standing there." Those are the warriors of Earthrealm." Shang Tsung told." And have been brought here by order of the Emperor for Mortal Kombat."

Baraka acknowledged the Sorcerer and retreated back into the darkness. After he left everyone turned to Shang Tsung.

"Right this way please." He said motioning to the area behind him. So one by one the ground began making their way forward. But Bobby grabbed Joseph and stayed behind.

"Joseph we've got to get out of here!" Bobby said to him.

"Why?"

"There's gonna be a fight! This 'Mortal Kombat' is some kind of tournament."

"There's fighting, cool."

"No, No Joseph you don't understand we-"

"Bobby." Called Naruto from the stairs." Are you coming?"

"Hill, over here now!" yelled Sonya. Bobby with no other choice followed after the group.

Stryker turned and glared at Sonya, then to Jax with his metal arms, then to Fox and Naruto behind him. To him none of this seemed right.

"What is going on here?" But then right at that second they were all introduced to a new sight.

There was a large hall with a horde of nightmarishness creatures. The tarkatans were all over, creatures with four arms, Reptile walked across the room, the Lin Kuei huddled together in one corner while the Black Dragon were in another. And overlooking the entire crowd was Shao Khan sitting in his chair, with his head rested in his hand. Kitana with Jade on his left and Mileena with Skarlet on his right.

At that moment Shang Tsung moved past Mileena and towards the Emperor leaning down to whisper in his ear. And whatever he said alert the Emperor, as he sat up straight with a smile on his face.

Then he turned his head and starred across the room at Bobby and the rest. At the sight of them he rose from his throne and stood to his full height.

"Silence!" he roared and everyone in the room froze in their spots. The Emperor slowly swayed his head from side to side as he surveyed the room." The Elder Gods have answered my calls." He pointed across the room and everyone followed it to the Earthrealm warriors." The Kombatans appear." He said." Enter warriors!" And the crowd made a path so that the warriors could pass by.

As they walked by Tundra stood with the Lin Kuei warriors. And immediately upon seeing the challengers he locked eyes onto Bobby and remembered him from their previous battle.

"Is that him?" boomed Sub-Zero in his ear.

"Yes." He nodded to his older brother. Bi-Han had heard of Tundra's fight with Bobby and it disgusted him. His brother and lost and therefore brought shame onto the Lin Kuei clan and more importantly himself.

"You must face him again." Said Sub-Zero." Kill him and regain your status as a Lin Kuei warrior."

Though they didn't so it totally unmolested as the Tarkatans roared at them or the Shokans beat their chests. The fear tactics were working especially on Bobby. But they walked together until they stood in the center of the room and before Shao Khan at his throne.

"You are here in my Palace to participate in Mortal Kombat." He said." Do you understand that?"

"Yes." Jax spoke for the ground.

"The rules for simple. Kombat is by challenge only, a challenge cannot be denied, the victor determines the fate of the loser." He chuckled darkly after which struck even greater fear in Bobby." Do you understand." Jax looked at his group and then looked back to Shao Khan.

"Yes." He replied.

"Then let the Tournament begin!"