A/N: It is important to remember this story takes place after MK: 4/Gold, but before Deadly Alliance (so yes, Original Timeline).
Chapter Three: Portal
"You're late." The Emperor of Outworld opened his eyes as Quan Chi stepped from a portal with Noob Saibot following suit.
Quan Chi ambled to the centre of the Throne Room. "We have successfully tracked the girl and she is now in the company of Scorpion."
"And what exact purpose does the girl serve in the plan?" Shao Kahn said. "You strayed from that subject the last time we spoke."
The necromancer smirked. "To put it simply, the girl will distract Scorpion long enough for us to destroy him. And like I have said before, that distraction has nothing to do with romantic feelings towards the brat."
Kahn stroked his chin. "Even so, Scorpion is a spectre; he would just be reborn in the Neatherrealm so killing him-
"Killing him would trap him once more in Neatherrealm while I roam freely across the realms while he must retrain his new body his Kombat skills and search the fiery pits of Hell for an escape portal, which could take many years to find," Quan Chi said. "But he is still currently in the Neatherrealm so we would have to wait-
"Still in the Neatherrealm? And you portaled the girl there with him?" Shao Kahn's voice echoed through the room. "I thought…Saibot was hired to portal Scorpion into the same dimension as the girl!"
"We had a change of plans. Capturing the brat was easier and quicker than ambushing Scorpion."
Shao Kahn clenched his fists as he inhaled thinly. "You are a fool Quan Chi! One cannot enter Neatherrealm without an evil soul!"
To Kahn's rage, a smug look flashed across Quan Chi's face. "Even a mortal human from another dimension has a tainted soul. All are born contaminated Kahn, and that one sliver of selfishness can be the key to entering the Neatherrealm."
"How can you be sure?" Shao Kahn stood from his throne. "The girl may die too early."
"The Elder Gods will notice an unbalance in the realms and react. They are probably noticing the change now."
Shao Kahn took a step towards the necromancer. "If she ends up dying, our plans will be demolished and I will have your head."
Quan Chi smiled. "There is always a resurrection chamber."
The Emperor growled. "How then, necromancer, are you going to get them both out of the realm?"
"Like I said, the gods will do that part. Be patient Kahn. Wait a few hours." With that, Quan Chi turned and went for a portal he'd conjured.
"Quan Chi!" But he was gone.
The Emperor's heavy breathing and the portal's sucking sounds from the corner filled the room. Noob Saibot, who hadn't moved since the start of the conversation, then made his way towards the dying vortex.
"You!"
Noob turned and saw the Emperor walking towards him with a pointing finger.
"Come here. I have a task for you…"
Scorpion had been training on the Neatherrealm Cliffs when the group of demons surrounded him. Quan Chi's men… He easily cut them down, tossing their corpses in the lava pits. *He sheathed his sword while glancing around the blood-caked ground and saw a last demon lying a distance away. Scorpion growled and took his time to reach the thing – the more painful of a death, the better.
He lifted the demon off the ground and felt a pulse buzzing through its neck. The Shirai Ryu threw it back to the ground and pounded his foot on the she-demon's chest, satisfied when it spurted blood. The spectre reached for his sword. Just as he unsheathed it, the she-demon opened its eyes.
Scorpion felt his sword hand go numb. His eyes widened as the watering eyes stared up at him. The woman gasped something, but he couldn't understand. Either it was because of her inability to form words or he was too distracted by the eyes. Eyes that he'd only seen one place else…
'No...'
He couldn't rip his eyes away from hers. It was only when hers closed he snapped out of it. Scorpion took an automatic step back and saw the clothes littered around the female. Odd-looking clothes… She couldn't be a demon then…
He gripped his sword with so much force his arm was shaking. Scorpion re-sheathed his weapon and whipped around to walk away.
Only he couldn't. Someone was blocking his path. "Raiden."
The Thunder God looked past Scorpion. "She is still alive. But there is not much time left unless we evacuate her from this realm."
The "we" made Scorpion completely jerk out of his daze. "What do you mean we?"
His eyes trailed to Scorpion. "This girl is from a completely different dimension. Not Earthrealm, not Outworld, none of the six realms. The Elder Gods sent me down to retrieve this girl before destruction takes place."
"Why can't…you just kill her to make things easier?" Scorpion said, restraining from looking at the body.
Raiden's eyes narrowed. "Where would her soul go? Where would it not go?"
A strangled pant sounded from behind. Raiden moved before Scorpion could react. "The girl will die if she remains here. I am giving you permission to enter Earthrealm."
Scorpion had started to walk away, but stopped dead in his tracks. He spun around to face the god. "You cannot just grant orders to me whenever you wish, Thunder God!"
"On the contrary, I have full authority to do so. You are to watch over the girl while I search for the portal that will return her to her realm." Raiden picked the unconscious female off the ground.
"What if I say no?" Scorpion hissed.
"Then your life will be worse than it already is." As he spoke, a blue portal spiraled into life. Raiden handed Scorpion the woman. He caught her out of reflexes. "Take her to the nearest medic." And he was gone.
Scorpion stood motionless with the woman in his arms. He could feel the blisters in her skin bubbling onto his uniform. Her head lolled onto his chest and he wanted to shove it away. The face looked too much like hers. His past wife.
* Even though Scorpion didn't have swords in MK 4/Gold, he did in Deadly Alliance. Since this story takes place between the two games, I'd say Scorpion's outfit is a morph of his two primary costumes. I assume he collected or found a better uniform during the time he was in Neatherrealm.