I don't own Mortal Kombat!
Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory…
Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart used to know
Things it yearns to remember…
Song: Once Upon A December
Artists: Liz Callaway, Stephen Flaherty
Faded Memories
Takeda, Jacqui, and Kung Jin stared at Cassie in complete and utter shock. Nobody spoke, until Cassie broke the silence.
''Who are you?'' she repeated, hoping for an answer.
Sonya and Johnny ran over, each covered in blood, bruises, cuts, and their clothes were torn.
''Cassie!'' Johnny exclaimed, hugging his daughter.
Cassie didn't return it, though, which disappointed Johnny. He slowly let go and looked her up and down. Sonya did as well, her eyebrow raised.
She grabbed Takeda and dragged him a few feet away. Once they were out of hearing range, she stopped and turned to him sharply.
''What the Hell is going on!'' she whispered yelled.
''I don't know.'' Takeda admitted honestly, not wanting to face the General's rage at a time like this. ''I freed her and…she asked me who I was, like…she didn't…remember me.''
Sonya calmed down a bit. ''Any idea how that happened?''
Takeda shook his head. Sonya sighed.
''We have to help her get her memories back.'' She said firmly.
Takeda nodded. ''But how?''
''I'll talk to Raiden, Johnny's coming with me.'' Sonya replied.
''Alright.'' Takeda said, walking back to the group, Sonya following behind him.
''Cage, come on.'' Sonya said to Johnny.
Johnny hesitantly stood up and followed Sonya, refusing to question her as to why the Hell he was following her when his daughter needed him.
Takeda sighed as he watched the two figures retreat. He turned to look at Cassie, who watched them, an eyebrow raised.
''Alright'' she began, grabbing their attention. ''Answers. Now.''
The three teenagers looked at each other, unsure of how to explain what horrible things she had faced.
''Okay, let's start simple.'' Jacqui announced.
''Your name is Cassie Cage. I'm Jacqui. This is Takeda and Kung Jin.'' She started.
''And who was the guy that hugged me?'' she asked them.
''That was your dad, Johnny Cage.'' Jacqui responded.
Cassie nodded slowly. ''And the woman who dragged you away?''
''Sonya Blade, your mother. Your parents are divorced.'' Jacqui replied.
''Then why the hell do I not remember any of this?'' Cassie asked, retaining some of her old attitude.
The trio looked nervously at each other.
''Yeah…we'll get to that later.'' Takeda replied.
''Alright.'' Cassie sighed. ''Can you at least tell me where the hell I am?''
''The Netherrealm, which is basically a living hell, to be honest.'' Kung Jin cut in.
''Okay…'' Cassie responded, giving a small nod.
She looked over to Takeda. Something about him seemed different, something that seemed to separate him from the others. But she couldn't put her finger on it.
Takeda, Jacqui, and Kung Jin talked amongst themselves, trying to figure out what to do next.
''Alright, Cassie, we're going home.'' Jacqui said.
''How?'' Cassie asked.
Jacqui took out a portal stone, a magical teleportation gem that could let you travel across the realms. For the mission to save Cassie, all three of them had been given one.
''With this.'' Jacqui replied shortly.
Cassie raised an eyebrow, but followed the three.
Jacqui threw the stone a few feet away. Before it hit the ground, it stopped mid-air and started to glow green.
Soon, it opened into a large hole. All four stepped in.
With Johnny and Sonya
''Alright, Raiden, how do we get Cassie's memories back?'' Sonya asked impatiently, tapping her foot and crossing her arms.
''I'm not entirely certain we can.'' Raiden explained.
''Oh, God fucking damn it! I didn't travel to the fucking Netherrealm to free my daughter, only to lose her!'' Sonya yelled at him.
''Sonya, calm down!'' Johnny said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
''Fuck off.'' She said harshly.
Johnny sighed, removing his hand.
''Can you at least try to find a way?'' Johnny asked Raiden.
''I can try, but, unfortunately, I'm not able to make any promises.'' Raiden replied.
''Oh, you'll do better than fucking try! You fucking will!'' Sonya shouted.
Raiden nodded.
Back with Cassie, Takeda, Jacqui, and Kung Jin
Cassie sat on a white hospital bed, a doctor doing a check up on her. The other three waited outside the door, hoping for the best. The doctor felt her heartbeat, checked for fevers, and shined lights in her eyes, mouth, and ears.
Cassie quickly grew tired of it, wanting to be anywhere but there.
When the Doctor tried to do more, she stopped him.
''My lord! I'm fine, so just fuck off.'' She said cruelly.
The doctor sighed, nodded, and head towards the door to the three awaiting teenagers.
He opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, grabbing the rest of the team's attention.
''How is she?" Takeda was the first to ask.
The doctor sighed. ''She's lost much of her memory, and I can't promise that she can get it all back. She shooed me away before I could finish.''
Takeda groaned. Yep, that sounded like Cassie.
''I'm gonna talk to her.'' He said, heading into the room.
Where he had hoped to find Cassie, he found nothing. The bed was abandoned and…the window. It was open, the city air blowing instead, causing the curtains to sway.
Takeda ran to the window and looked down. He didn't see Cassie, not a single sign.
''Jacqui, Jin!'' he yelled.
The two rushed in, wondering why he was so alarmed. If anything, it couldn't be good.
''Where is she?'' Jacqui asked worriedly.
The two noticed the open window.
''Elder Gods help us.'' Jacqui said, putting her hand to her head and groaning.
''Split up, search the city. I'll call Sonya.'' Takeda commanded.
The two nodded and took off.
Takeda took a communicator that was hooked on his belt and called Sonya.
''Takashi, what is it?'' she asked him.
''Cassie.'' Takeda scratched the back of his neck.
''And what about her?'' Sonya demanded.
''She's missing.'' Takeda finally said.
Sonya face palmed herself and groaned.
''I'll be back with Johnny as soon as I can.'' Sonya said and hung up.
With Jacqui
Jacqui walked all around town, asking people if they had seen Cassie and describing her to them.
Many people had said no, but Jacqui finally came to a person who gave her information.
''Yes.'' A woman said.
''Where?'' Jacqui asked urgently.
''She went that way.'' The woman said, pointing to her right. ''Just a few minutes ago.''
''Thank you!'' Jacqui said quickly and rushed away.
''My pleasure.'' The woman said, before ducking into an alleyway.
She tapped on her wrists a few times, then her image faded away. In her place was a man with one glowing red eye and enhanced cybernetics. And there's only one person who fit that description…Kano.
With Kung Jin
Jacqui had taken to the streets to the East, so Kung Jin covered the West.
He didn't want to waste time, so he was jumping from building to building, watching from the roofs.
Hordes of people moved in the streets below, but there was no sign of Cassie.
Kung Jin stood up from the crouched position he was in. He jumped over to the next building, when a voice grabbed his attention.
''Hey, what're you doin' up here!'' a male voice called.
Kung Jin turned around to see a man in a blue janitor suite. His hair was brown, but white at the tips.
''Sorry, sir.'' Kung Jin apologized.
The janitor shook his head. ''You shouldn't be up here.''
''Looking for something.'' Kung Jin replied, turning back to look down at the streets.
''What could you possibly lose on a roof, mate?'' the man said, his voice changing to an accent he knew too well.
Kung Jin's eyes widened and he turned back around to see Kano.
''What the hell are you doing here!'' he shouted angrily.
''Oi, mate! I'm jus' helpin' look for Cass!'' Kano responded.
Kung Jin grew angrier and punched Kano in the jaw. Kano was sent flying over to the other side of the roof.
He got up from his spot on the ground, spitting out blood.
''How did you know!'' Kung Jin yelled, drawing his bow and arrow.
''Let's jus' say I've got friends. Word gets around fast, Ya know? And now, I'm here to help.'' Kano said.
''You won't touch her!'' Jin shouted, firing an arrow and hitting Kano in the glowing circle on his chest.
''Sonuvabitch!'' Kano yelled, blasting his eye beam.
Kung Jin dodged it and fired another arrow. This time it hit Kano in the mechanical eye.
''Oi! You Earthrealmers are all bent, mate!'' Kano said. ''Aw, easy repairs.'' He said, referring to his chest plate and robotic eye. ''It's time for Cassie to meet Uncle Kano.''
With that, Kano jumped over the edge of the roof. Kung Jin ran to the edge, but saw no sign of him.
Grunting, he took out his communicator.
''What is it, Jin?'' Jacqui asked him.
''Ran into Kano. He knows about Cassie.'' Kung Jin replied.
''God dammit.'' Jacqui quietly cursed.
Kung Jin nodded. ''He's trying to get to her before we can.''
Jacqui nodded. ''We'll make sure that doesn't happen.''
''Alright.'' Kung Jin said, hanging up.
With Takeda
Takeda had waited at the hospital for Johnny and Sonya. Soon, they arrived.
''I sent Jacqui and Jin to search the city. Jacqui took the East and Jin took the West.'' Takeda explained. ''I can take the North.''
''And we'll take the South.'' Sonya confirmed.
''Alright.'' Takeda nodded.
Sonya and Johnny left the building, leaving Takeda.
Sighing, he looked towards the window. 'Come on, Cassie. Just give me a sign.'
Just then, several screams could be heard, including one he knew all too well, Cassie's.
Without thinking, he jumped out the window. About half way to the street from the air, he shot his whips to the building, pulling himself over. He jumped the rest of the way down, landing on his feet.
He ran through the alleyways to the street. There, he saw several car wrecks, on fire, and several dead bodies.
Cassie's scream came again, just across the street and into an alleyway. Takeda took out his communicator and ran across. About halfway there, he received an answer from everyone. It was better, so he could talk to everyone at the same time.
''Takeda, what is it?'' Jacqui was first to ask.
''I found Cassie.'' He answered.
''Where?'' Sonya cut in.
Takeda gave everyone his coordinates, and everyone reassured him they'd be there ASAP.
Takeda made his way into the alleyway and found a horrific sight.
There, sitting against the wall, was Cassie. She was sweating, but a large cut was made across her stomach, bleeding heavily. She was panting quickly, while holding her hand to her stomach.
Takeda ran over to her and knelt down.
Cassie's eye cracked open upon hearing him. ''Takeda…''
''It's okay, I'm here.'' He reassured her.
''Who did this?'' he asked, gently taking her arm away from her stomach.
Cassie gasped in pain, but allowed him to continue. Her arm was coated in blood.
But her stomach was a different story. Blood was staining her white tank top and her shirt was torn where the cut was made. Takeda noticed that she also had a black eye.
''Cassie!'' a female voice sounded.
Takeda turned his head to see Jacqui and Kung Jin running towards him.
''What happened?'' Jacqui asked worriedly.
''Don't know.'' Takeda responded. ''I found her like this.''
''And you're going to wish you hadn't.'' Kano's voice echoed through the alleyway.
Everyone turned their heads to see him, worry turning to anger.
Before they had a chance to attack, Kano used his repaired laser eye to blast Kung Jin against the wall, knocking him out. Jacqui tightened her gauntlets and blasted blue energy at him. Kano dodged it. Jacqui ran at him and punched him in the jaw. Kano stumbled backwards, and spitting blood, which served to make him angrier.
Jacqui kicked Kano off his feet. When he got back up, Jacqui punched him multiple times in the chest and stomach, knocking the air out if him.
Kano, when he recovered, kicked Jacqui in the stomach. Then he blasted her with his laser eye. As a last hit, Kano kneed her up the chin, then the stomach, and knocked her out.
Takeda pulled out his bladed whips and shot them at Kano. The blades embedded themselves in Kano's chest. Takeda yanked him towards a wall. Kano slammed into it and Takeda retracted the whip.
''Big mistake, mate.'' Kano said mockingly.
''How so?'' Takeda asked harshly.
Before Kano answered, a Black Dragon member, Tasia, snuck up behind him and kicked him in the back.
''That's how so.'' She said, taking out her swords.
Kano laughed, walking up to Takeda, who was on the floor.
He stomped on his spine, then left him to Tasia. Right as she lifted her sword to stab him, Kano's grunt stopped her. She looked to where her leader had been, but he was laying on the ground, a female on top of him.
Sonya looked up at Tasia. She aimed her wrist blasters at her and blasted. Tasia was slammed against the wall from the impact, burn marks on her chest, leaving her clothes singed. She fell down to the ground, groaning.
Sonya ran over to Takeda and Cassie. Before she could reach them, an axe was thrown at her head. Sonya ducked and the axe embedded itself in the wall behind her.
She looked in front of her. A few feet away was another Black Dragon member, Jarek.
Sonya glared at him, distracting him. Johnny ran up behind him, glowing green and punching a hole through his chest, then snapping his neck.
Jarek fell to the ground, dead.
''Mom…'' Cassie's faint voice came.
Sonya looked over to her daughter. Takeda quickly got up, his spine having recovered. Takeda ran over to Cassie, who closed her eyes after having lost so much blood.
Sonya and Johnny both gasped when they saw the pool of blood beneath their daughter and her blood stained shirt.
Takeda picked her up, carrying her bridal style in his arms.
''Go get Jacqui and Jin.'' He told the two.
They nodded, rushing over to the two unconscious members. Johnny helped Jacqui, who woke up quickly. She told Johnny that she could walk on her own. Kung Jin was awake, but hardly. He confirmed the three that he was fine.
The only person who was seriously injured and close to death was Cassie.
End of chapter!
More to come!
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