Judgment
"Bobby!" exclaimed Joseph. Everyone in the room turned and watched them. Joseph leaned forward and hugged his life-long friend.
"Your alive!" said Sonya shocked. Bobby was just as surprised at it as they were. He looked around the room and he saw Kitana hugging the lifeless body of Sub-Zero. He had failed to bring him back from the Netherealm. But that was the least of his worries right now.
Shao Khan looked from the dead Sub-Zero to the alive Bobby.
"Now it is your turn boy." He said. And he advanced towards him. Bobby prepared to get up and run but was stopped as Sonya pushed him back to the ground.
"Stay down. We'll handle this." She turned to Joseph and nodded. The two turned and faced the advancing Emperor. Then together they charged him. But with a wave of his hand his magic lifted the two in the air and shot them off in different directions across the room. Now he had a clear path to Bobby.
"I said I would deal with you after the Lin Kuei." He said." And now it is your turn." Bobby now realized that right now more than any other moment in his life was a fight or flight situation. Yet for some reason when he rose to his feet he did not run he just stood there." What's this you're not going to run?" Shao Khan boasted as he now stood before Bobby. And Bobby simply reacted swinging his fist forward and punching Shao Khan in the stomach. The Emperor didn't try to block or dodge he let Bobby hit him right in the chest. It felt like less than a tickle." You think you have a chance against me?!" In one swift move he reached down and held Bobby's head in his hand, suffocating him." HaHa, You little fool. You thought you could defeat the most powerful being alive!"
"Oh I wouldn't say that." A voice echoed in the room. Everyone searched around for the source of it. Then the fire from the torches blew together and from the fire and smoke a man appeared. Bobby had only seen it done once before." Greetings Shao Khan." Shinnok smirked.
"You." The Emperor grumbled upon seeing him.
"You say you're the most powerful being alive?" Shinnok repeated." What's say you put down that mortal and test your might against a real God?"
"Be Gone!" Shao Khan roared." This is my tournament, this is my world!"
"As you wish." Said Shinnok and it appeared as if he would leave. When Shao Khan turned his back to him Shinnok addressed him with smirk." Your wife sends her regards." And Shao Khan's body tensed up and Bobby slipped through his fingers like water and fell onto the ground.
The Emperor seemed to forget about him as he turned around and faced the smiling God.
"You want to fight!" He roared. He held his hand out and his mighty hammer appeared." Fine! I will show no mercy!" But Shinnok did not seem threatened. Shao Khan jumped into the air swinging his hammer back and came down slamming it on Shinnok's head.
But the Elder God did not move, he didn't even blink when the hammer hit his forehead. He simply tilted his head to the side and starred Shao Khan in the eye.
"Is that all?" He smiled. Shao Khan roared and prepared for another swing but it would not land. Shinnok opened his mouth and a swarm of locust flew out and covered Shao Khan. He growled and grunted as he tried to swat the bugs away. The bugs only spread around the room, but that wasn't all. Shinnok closed his mouth and reopened it this time shooting a swarm of bats. They flew out a followed the locust snapping and biting at them, and whomever they landed on.
Everyone scattered throughout the room to try and avoid them. Bobby covered himself hearing the deathly screams of the bats and horrified crys of those being attacked but he himself felt nothing. When he looked up he saw bug and bat alike passing over him as if he wasn't there. It wasn't just him but Joseph, Sonya, Fox, Naruto, even Kitana and Sub-Zero were being looked over as well. But everyone else was being attacked.
Shao Khan swung his hammer wildly trying any way to get them off him. Mileena shrunk back in a corner with Skarlet as her shield against them.
When Shinnok deemed it enough he acted. He exhaled a breath from his nose and like a spark his breath attracted the fire of the torches and they incinerated all the bats and bugs. Standing before him was Shao Khan the Emperor of Outworld with bit marks and brunt skin. He was so weakened he could hardly hold his hammer. Shinnok advanced towards him and he staggered back.
Noticing their Emperor's plight his loyal subjects jumped in to help.
Baraka was first lunging in with his bladed arms. But then Quan Chi jumped out from behind his master and blocked Baraka's blade with his own. He swung Baraka's blade to the ground and punched him, forcing him to stumble back. Goro charged next only for Noob Saibot to jump out, run across Shinnok's path and tackled Goro to the ground. Skarlet jumped at Shinnok from his left but Scorpion appeared out of smoke before her. He grabbed her arm and torso and swung her across the room. Kintaro appeared from behind Shinnok but Noob Saibot jumped back and kicked him in the face, sending him to the ground. Shinnok walked by the whole time seemingly ignoring everything around him.
Shao Khan had fallen back into his throne with only Mileena and Shang Tsung as his guards. The Sorcerer attached first using his magic but Quan Chi countered with his own and knocked Shang Tsung to the ground. Mileena charged at them only for Scorpion to grab her by the wrist and kick her legs out from under her. She tried to get up but he placed his foot on her chest.
"Stay down!" He ordered.
Now Shinnok could get to Shao Khan easily. He slowly made his way towards him, seemingly gliding across the ground as his feet made no sounds. Shao Khan panted weak breaths in his chair.
"You thought you were a God amongst mortal men." Shinnok said to him. Shao Khan raised his head and looked at him with weak eyes." Let me show you know the fate of all mortals." His eyes glowed yellow and Shao Khan met his stare. Then right before the eyes of everyone Shao Khan's body began to melt. Skin, muscle, bone all dripped from his skin like melting ice. When it was over the only thing that remained was a pile of dust and his helmet. Shinnok turned and walked away from it. He turned and walked in Bobby's direction. The Bobby rose to his feet and looking up to see the God standing before him." Well." Shinnok said." That takes care of it." He looked over his shoulder and Bobby followed his gaze. They saw Kitana and Mileena hovering over the remains of their father." Now we'll see what happens next."
Kitana held the helmet in her hands and looked it over carefully. With her father dead that meant that the rule of Outworld feel to her. Now the decision lies with her. Should she continue her father's legacy and wage war on the realms or should she do the opposite.
She turned to all those in the room and addressed those from Outworld, Earthrealm and beyond.
"With my father's passing I am made Empress of Outworld." She said." And as my first decree is to end the Mortal Kombat tournament." Bobby nearly jumped with excitement. It was finally over.
"No!" a voice rose up. Kitana turned around to see Mileena standing before her." I am Empress and I demand the tournament to continue." Bobby was now shaking with fear once more.
"I am the Elder sister." Kitana said." The role of leadership passes to me." Kitana watched as Mileena was joined by Skarlet, Shang Tsung, Baraka and the Shotkans. And she herself only had Jade.
"Says who." Mileena spoke.
"I do." Said a voice. Kitana looked down and saw Sub-Zero who was once dead now rise up and stand amongst the living.
"How?" Bobby said.
"It appears Shao Khan missed his mark." Said Shinnok. Kitana held her lover before the sight of everyone although it made little difference.
"And I!" called a voice. Everyone turned to the door and saw a lone figure making his way into the room. It was a face all remembered well.
"Ermac?!" said Bobby confused.
"I will fight with Princess Kitana." He said in a new voice. He'd traveled the worlds from Arlen to the Order realm and found his calling for Order. He now came back to set right what he himself had wronged. Ermac stood behind Kitana and Sub-Zero, looking to his right he saw another familiar face. His old friend Reptile.
But they were still five against seven.
"Well isn't this a delightful turn of events." Commented Shinnok. Quan Chi nodded his reply and the God looked over to Noob and Scorpion. The two eyed the developing situation over with great interest." Go on then." Shinnok said with a nod of his head. The two did not wait a moment and joined the lines of Kitana's ranks. Now they were both even.
"None in the all the realms can stop this deadly alliance." Said Noob with his giant battle ax.
"On that we agree." Said Scorpion. Noob reached over and swatted Sub-Zero in the back of the head.
"We'd best move along." Said Shinnok. He turned and began leading the way and Bobby prepared to follow.
"Hold on." Said Sonya grabbing him." We can help here."
"But he said-"
"I doesn't matter what he said!" Sonya interrupted him." Our mission is to stop Outworld invasion at all cost. If we leave now they might-" But now it was Sonya who was interrupted as Shinnok pointed at Sonya and hit her with a magical blast. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell forward, luckily Bobby caught her.
"Did you just-" But Shinnok raised his hand silencing him.
"She is only asleep." He told. He looked at Joseph, Fox and Naruto." Anyone else have any objections." None answered so Shinnok turned to Quan Chi." Quan Chi make sure these mortals are returned to Earthrealm. I have meddled with things enough here and must return to the Netherrealm." And in a flash of smoke dissapeared and only Quan Chi was left.
The Sorcerer looked as the battle for Outworld was about to begin.
"Follow me." He said with a wave and began walking out of the room. Everyone followed after him, Bobby carrying Sonya on his shoulders.
As they left the battle began and the sound of weapons clashing and warrior's grunting could be heard. Once they were far enough Quan Chi turned back to the ground. And with a wave of his hands he created a portal to Arlen Texas.
"This will take you back to Earthrealm." Bobby turned to Joseph.
"Are you ready to go home?" He asked. And Joseph who was now was tired of all this as Bobby nodded.
"Yea, dude."
"But what about us?" asked Fox pointing to himself and Naruto.
"We're not from their world." Naruto added.
"My charges were to send you all to Earthrealm." Said Quan Chi." Nowhere else." He crossed his arms and the group knew they'd get nothing else from him. So then they decided to take what they had and walked into the portal. Bobby led the way with Joseph following after him with Naruto and Fox in the rear.
Once they'd all entered the portal closed behind them and they found themselves in Arlen. Although the portal could have put them at a more exact location. They were in fact on the very edge of the town, out by the kettle pot rock structure.
So they had to walk all the way across town to get back to the Army Base. Not an easy task when you have a koed woman on your shoulders and an animal-man who had to stay out of view.
But eventually they managed to make it back to the Army Base. This was their destination since their first order of business was getting both Naruto and Fox home.
When Sonya opened her eyes she saw an overhead light on a metal ceiling and could hear the distinct chatter a voices. She sprung up and looking over she saw Bobby, Joseph, Fox and Naruto standing over a control panel.
"What's going on?!" she said getting to her feet.
"Well we're trying to figure out how this thing works." Bobby said over his shoulder.
"What happened in Outworld?" she asked." How did we get back here?"
"Tell you the truth I don't really know. Magic or whatever, we're back home that's all that matters." Bobby said turning to her.
"Hill." Sonya groaned. But she could hardly stay mad. Her duty was to defend Earthrealm and she did that. But the situation had changed in Outworld and it no longer required their assistance.
" Hey why don't we focus on getting these two home." He pointed to Naruto and Fox." They don't belong here as much as we belonged in Outworld."
"Move." She said pushing Joseph aside and then Bobby. She clicked a few numbers on the keyboard and then a portal opened in front of them by the means of science." I don't know if this will get you back home. But it will take you somewhere." She pointed to it. Naruto and Fox glanced at each other.
"Looks like we don't have much of a choice." Smiled Naruto.
"I think I'm ready for another adventure." Added Fox. He walked over to Sonya and looked as if he would hug her." Thank you." He said. He moved his arms up but Sonya shot her's out and kept him at bay. So instead Fox stuck out his hand which she shook. She did the same with Naruto when he approached her.
"Joseph." Said Fox shaking his hand." Stay out of trouble." Then he turned to Bobby." And you, stay safe kid." And instead of a hand-shake Bobby leaned in a hugged Fox." Take care." Said Fox as he stepped aside. Then Naruto stepped up and he and Bobby hugged.
"I'll see you again brother." He said. Then Naruto turned and joined Fox. Then together the two ran into the portal, turning around and giving one last wave goodbye before they disappeared.
Once they were gone Sonya closed down the machine and waited a few seconds to make sure this one wouldn't suck them in as well. Once she was sure that wouldn't happen she spoke.
"Looks like that's over." She slowly turned around and looked at Bobby." Looks like it's just you and me again." Bobby gulped down a breath.
"Yea." He responded." Sonya." He said taking a step closer to her." I need to talk to you." Sonya looked as if she would hear him out but then turned her attention to Joseph. Bobby turned and saw his friend glaring at the two with wide eyes and a lowered jaw.
"Uh Joseph can you give us a few minutes?" asked Bobby.
"Okay dude." Said Joseph. He turned and walked up the stairs, Bobby waited until he was really gone before he began.
"So what is it you want to talk to me about?" asked Sonya.
"About this." Bobby opened his arms and showcased the Special Forces base around them." About what we do."
"What about it?" asked Sonya. Bobby however did not answer and bit his lip nervously. "Do you want something?" she asked.
"Yes." He answered with a nod of his head.
"And what is that?"
"I want out." He said. Sonya looked at him plainly." I want out of the Special Forces, I want out of the Army. Since you're officially the Leader now you have the power to do that." Sonya took a step closer to him.
"Is that what you really want?" she asked.
"Yes." He said with a nod. Sonya took a deep breath and looked him over. Jax, Kenshi, Cyrax there was nobody else in the Special Forces. Nobody but they two and now body wanted to change that two to a one.
"Done." She answered. She knew Bobby wasn't cut out for this kind of lifestyle. He'd be better off at Strickland Propane with his father where she found him before all this happened. Bobby beamed at her strangely." I'll put the papers through in the morning. And you can leave this all behind you." Bobby sniffled.
"Thank you-" He leaned in put his arms out but once again Sonya shot her's up and prepared to block him. Bobby lowered his arms." Thank you." He said in a more serious manner. Once again the two locked eyes and looked at the other. This would be the last time they'd see each other.
"You know not to tell anyone about this right?" she asked him.
"Yes." He nodded.
"And does your friend?" She pointed in the direction Joseph had gone.
"I don't think anyone would believe him if he did." Bobby joked. A slight curve formed on the edge of Sonya's lips. Silence followed after that." I-I guess I'll be going now." She nodded to him." Goodbye Sonya."
"Goodbye Hill." She said. Then at the same time the two turned their back on the other. Sonya stayed in the base while Bobby climbed the stairs and exited the barracks.
"So dude what did you say?" Joseph immediately asked.
"Nothing." Bobby responded.
"What did you tell her?"
"Nothing."
"You get her number?"
"No."
"You didn't go for her?" Bobby cocked his head to Joseph.
"No." He answered.
"Does that mean I can go for her?" Bobby snickered at the question. Then turned to look at Joseph with a smile on his face.
"Joseph my friend. "He answered with a pat on the back." She's all yours."
The two had walked out of the barracks and out of the base. With no other way home the two found themselves walking down the road. And they had a long way to go but a story long enough to keep the time passing by.