The Point of No Return

The next morning all the kombatants gathered in the main hall. The sight was familiar and yet it wasn't. There was Shao Khan in his throne with both his daughters by his side but Bobby saw a lighter side to Kitana this morning. Sub-Zero stood on the other side of the room with the Lin Kuei and Bobby saw a different light in him as well.

Mileena leaned down and whispered in her father's ear. He nodded and when she leaned away he spoke to the crowd.

"The first battle will be Fox McCloud and Naruto Uzumaki." The two in questioned stepped up and into the middle of the room." Versus Sektor and Smoke of the Lin Kuei." The two assassins left Sub-Zero and walked into the middle of the room, squaring off with their opponents." Begin!" And they all rushed at each other.

Joseph did not stay with them that morning. When he saw Kabal wasn't at the ceremony he quickly began his search elsewhere for him. He snuck around the palace and the surrounding grounds much like the characters in the military games he liked to play. But for once Joseph's mind wasn't on his games, the tournament, or about the loosely dressed women. Right now his mind was on revenge.

And it wasn't long before he found who he was looking for.

Sektor ran forward and tried to punch Fox but he blocked with his forearm. Sekotr tried again only to be blocked once more. Fox kicked his leg out straight, Sektor leaned to the side but still managed to be kicked in his thigh causing him to stumble back.

Smoke shot a gust of wind at Naruto managing to knock him off his feet. Once in the air Smoke appeared above Naruto, put both his hands together and hit Naruto. But the boy managed to block it as he was flying to the ground below. He managed to land on two feet. Sektor swung his leg forward and kicked Fox in the chest sending him stumbling back. Lucky for Fox Naruto caught him. But then Sektor put both hands together and flamethrower shot from his arms. Naruto and Fox quickly jumped out of the way avoiding the fire.

Kabal was standing on the edge of a cliff with Kobra standing next to him. The two had their backs to him.

"Kabal!" Joseph yelled. Slowly Kabal turned and faced him. He said nothing when he saw Joseph standing there." Today's the day." Joseph said as he started walking towards them." Today's the day I kill you!" Blunt as always.

At the threat of violence to his leader Kobra sprung into attack. He marched forward and confronted Joseph. He punched Joseph in the face, then a second time now causing him to bend over. Then he swung his leg out and tried to kick Joseph. But this time Joseph swung his arm up and pushed Kobra's leg back. Then Kobra stumbled back.

Now Joseph pulled out his baton. The two now began circling each other. Kobra lunged forward and tried to kick Joseph in the head. But Joseph dodged and jumped forward and hit Kobra in the head, kncoking him to the ground.

"Enough!" Kabal suddenly commanded. The fighting stopped and both boys looked to him." Go Kobra." Kobra looked confused and opened his mouth to protest." GO , get out of here!" He waved him away. And Kobra did as he was told and ran away. Now it was just Joseph and Kabal." Alright Joseph. I don't suppose you'll be challenging me to fight?" He already knew the answer as did Joseph." Let's get this over with." Joseph dropped his baton to the ground and pulled out his pistol." Pull the hammer back." Joseph did as he said." Aim."

"I know what I'm doing!" Joseph snapped at him.

"So then just do it." Joseph aimed down at Kabal. He was only about ten feet in front of him, one clean shot would send him over the edge of the cliff. But Joseph did not fire right away for some reason he waited. He waited and waited and soon his hand began to shake. Kabal stood by silently the whole time with his hands behind his back.

"No!" He finally said straightening himself out." No I won't kill you." He holstered his pistol and traded it for his handcuffs." I'm taking you back to Arlen." He now marched towards Kabal with the handcuffs." That's what Stryker would want."

"How sentimental." Kabal said. Joseph was right in front of him now but Kabal did as he asked and turned around, showcasing his hands. Joseph wrapped one arm and prepared to cuff him. But then quick as a flash Kabal turned around, grabbed the pistol off of Joseph's belt and pointed it in the boys face. Joseph now began to back up as Kabal advanced." But you see how's it's turned out for you." He took another step forward and Joseph took one back. "I didn't want to kill Stryker." He admitted." And I certainly didn't want you getting involved in all this." Then suddenly Kabal turned the pistol away from Joseph and turned it on himself." Get your friend and go back home while you still can." Joseph jumped out and prepared to scream 'No!'. But he hardly had time to do either before a gunshot rang out and Kabal fell. Joseph tried to grab him but his body fell back and went down the side of the cliff.

Joseph stood there for a good, long , silent time. He was collecting his thoughts trying to make sense of the whole thing. But that's when he suddenly remembered something. Kabal had said take your friend and go home.

"Bobby!" He remembered. Then Joseph turned and ran back to the Palace.

The tag-team battle had been going on for almost ten minutes. Fire and Smoke were the main weapon giving the Lin Kuei and advantage but neither Fox nor Naruto would stay down and continued to fight. They were the underdogs and still they managed to pull through.

Sektor swung a punch and hit Fox in the face. But when he swung another Fox blocked him and grabbed onto his forearm. Then he kicked out his leg and hit Sektor in the knee a bone crushing sound filling the air. Then Fox grabbed onto Sektor and swung him up over his shoulder.

Naruto was in the middle of battle with Smoke. The two tossing punches and kicks left and right while dodging the others. But then Smoke was taken to the ground by a flying Sektor and the Lin Kuei stood in a defeated pile. Naruto turned to Fox and smiled at their victory.

"Finish them." Shao Khan said. Fox looked at the defeated ninjas before then looked to Bobby standing on the sidelines. Every since the beginning he would not kill, no matter what the circumstance. Naruto moved forward ready to act out that verdict but was stopped as Fox stretched out his arm, stopping him. When Naruto looked at him Fox only shook his head.

Bobby smiled knowing that apparently some people where listening to him. Fox and Naruto returned to their group while Sektor and Smoke walked away in shame.

"The Next Battle." Spoke Shao Khan getting the attention of everyone in the room." Will be Bobby Hill." Once again Bobby felt a cold feeling in his stomach. Sonya gave him a light push forward and he walked into the middle of the room, his knees shaking." Versus Sub-Zero." The Lin Kuei warrior walked into the middle of the room. He gave a nod to Bobby putting him at ease.

"Your majesty." Spoke up Sub-Zero." I cannot fight."

"You will fight." Shao Khan ordered.

"I have already been eliminated from the tournament."

"I make the rules here." Shao Khan pointed to himself." And I say you shall fight and one of you will die." Bobby gulped hard at that statement. Sub-Zero turned and looked at him once more. Bobby shook his head and Sub-Zero remembered how Bobby had sparred his life before. Even though he didn't want it he would repay his debt to him now.

"No." He said firmly turning back to Shao Khan.

"What?"

"I will not fight him. This boy has sparred my life twice now." He pointed to Bobby." I will not harm a hair on his head, nor will I see anyone else deal him harm." Sub-Zero stood tall and firm. But then Shao Khan rose from his throne a menacing figure.

"Have you forgotten Lin Kuei that your clan has sworn an oath to serve me?" Sub-Zero glanced to Bobby.

"I have sworn many vows." He answered. He turned from Bobby and for a moment looked at Kitana." Some more important than others." And althought he looked at her briefly Shao Khan followed his gaze to his eldest daughter.

"Kitana!"

"Yes father." She jumped to her feet.

"What say you about all this?" Kitana was silent as she looked forward at Sub-Zero and Bobby. But every second she was silent only seemed to make Shao Khan more curious. She cleared her throat before speaking.

"If you wish them to fight let them fight." She said. Shao Khan nodded to her and turned back to them.

"Now fight to the death." He commanded. Sub-Zero and Bobby glanced at each other.

"Father." Said Kitana over his shoulder." The rules say the kombatants decided the outcome of the fight."

"Do you now confess concern for these mortals Kitana?" Shao Khan asked, snapping his head to her. But Kitana began to stammer which caused her father to turn to her fully.

"I-I just acknowledge the rules." She answered then quickly added at the end. "Father."

"I CREATE THE RULES!" He yelled causing Kitana to shake. Bobby and Sub-Zero could do nothing more than watch."I decide who lives and who dies." He raised his hand making it seem as if he would slap Kitana.

"Shao Khan!" yelled Sub-Zero. The Emperor slowly turned around to face Sub-Zero." I khallenge you to kombat!" Shao Khan smirked.

"Very well." He took a heavy step forward." I will kill you first." He said before looking to Bobby. But Shao Khan was stopped as Kitana reached out and grabbed him by his arm. He slowly turned around to face her.

"Father don't do this." She said in a soft voice.

"Don't do what?" He replied back."The rules state kombat cannot be denied. And since the prevailing fighter chooses the outcome." He turned back to Sub-Zero." I choose death for the Lin Kuei." He shook his arm free of Kitana and took a step forward. Sub-Zero spread his legs apart and put his fists up.

"Daddy I love him!" Kitana yelled. And that stopped Shao Khan in his tracks. Then he turned back to her slowly, slower than he had before. And looking at her he knew it was true, he hadn't believed it when he was first told but now it was clear.

He turned away from her and back to Sub-Zero, still ready to fight. Shao Khan stood silent as the grave as he appeared to think the situation over. And it was now that everyone thought what Bobby had said last night was true. Above all else he cared about his daughter's happiness more than his own vanity.

But that thought was wiped from everyone's mind as Shao Khan raised his hand and shot a green beam at Sub-Zero. It happened so fast that hardly saw it coming, especially Sub-Zero.

The blast passed right through his body, hitting him in the chest.

"No!" yelled Bobby. He ran forward thinking he could help Sub-Zero in some way. But when he got close the magic that hit Sub-Zero shot out and hit him as well. Bobby was sent back flying through the air and crashed into the wall. Then Bobby slid down to the ground.

"NO!" Kitana cried.

"HILL!" yelled Sonya as she ran over to him. Kitana collapsed to her knees as Sub-Zero hit the ground.

"Bobby!" screamed Joseph. He had just walked into the room and saw Bobby fly across the room. The two quickly ran over to him." Bobby, Bobby c'mon dude!" He shook Bobby hard but it didn't wake him up.

"Move." Said Sonya pushing him aside. She laid Bobby across the ground and began performing CPR. She bent down and put her lips on his pushing two breaths into his body." One, two." She counted aloud as she started pounding on his chest. But none of that it anything and Bobby just laid there. So then Sonya began punching Bobby in his chest but even that didn't wake him.

Bobby was not in Outworld anymore. He was in a place much, much worse.