Love & War 4
Chapter 4: Caged, Part 1 of 2
In the aftermath, Raiden seemed to have calmed down.
"Fujin!"
"You never listen..."
"Hold still. We don't have much time."
"Was it worth it? Your arm..."
"It won't heal for some time. The price I pay for invoking the Elder Gods with Blood Magik. Earthrealm and Outworld are falling into chaos and the bloodshed could begin... with Cassie Cage."
Somewhere in Outworld, Jade and Tanya met up with Queen Sindel in a campsite for a briefing.
"Girls, I called both of you here, mostly you, Tanya, because I have grave news."
Tanya could tell something was wrong. "What is it, your highness?"
"Tanya, long ago, you were exonerated when you delivered your "evil twin" to justice. Or so we thought..."
Tanya suddenly felt sick. "What do you mean? I thought she was dead."
"She was, but recently, there was something called the Blood Code."
"Blood Code?"
"According to Raiden, a demon is lurking somewhere in Earthrealm. He explained to me of these daggers called the Kamidogu. They are said to be powerful weapons capable of corrupting those that are cut by it. Sub-Zero already fell victim."
"You believe my twin could be after the daggers?"
"It is a possibility. I do not know all the details, but it is grim to say the least. That's why I'm sending you, Tanya, to learn all that you can about the Blood Code as well as preventing the daggers from falling into the wrong hands, especially your twin, and you are the only one who can stop her."
Tanya teared up at the thought of her twin possessing the daggers. She was somehow resurrected, to kill Tanya, no doubt.
"Your highness," Jade spoke. "I don't think Tanya should do this alone. If someone were to have one of these daggers and cuts her with it, she'll become corrupted, worse than before. We lost her once, and we cannot afford to lose her again."
"I appreciate your deepest concerns, Jade," said Tanya, still tearing up. "But as long as you and Chris are by my side..."
Jade held Tanya close. The thought of being corrupted again was something Tanya never wanted to happen to her again. Chris rescued her from her corruption, and she was grateful that she was herself again. She feared, however, that her twin is possibly searching for these daggers in order to kill her and take her body back, and possibly threaten the realms. In those eyes stands a young woman, beautiful and fearless. Her Pyromancy and amazing acrobatic speed and skill will once again be tested beyond her limits. She stopped her twin before, but this time around, she knows she must fight for her realm. With this epiphany, Tanya's eyes shone new resolve that will illuminate the future.
"Jade, you and Chris meet up with Sonya, and Tanya, be on your guard, my dear. We do not know enough about the Blood Code. I know I am laying it all on your shoulders, but knowing you, I know you will succeed."
Tanya looked into the queen's eyes. Sindel could tell the Pyromancer is ready to receive her first call of duty.
"Where should I start?"
Meanwhile, Venice, CA in Johnny Cage's condo. Two young girls are inside. One is a blond with short hair, wearing a shirt with a letter C on it, a pink bracelet on her left wrist and gray shorts. The other is a African-American female with a cornrose/ponytail hairstyle. She wears a white tank top and black track pants. The condo inside has a couch with 5 pillows, a great view of the city and a Super Nintendo system. Seems like Johnny is an old school gamer? Considering how old school he is, I couldn't blame him. Sometimes it's a good idea to go back to the old school times in the modern world.
"Fine, Jacqui. Let's see if your Olympic Kickboxing squares against someone who know than one style."
"JUNIOR Olympics, Cassie," Jacqui corrected. "You're just like your old man. You never know when to shut up."
A fight began. Cassandra Carlton Cage, Cassie for short, is the daughter of Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade, who has a lot to live up to. 25 years ago, Johnny and Sonya survived the Mortal Kombat tournament with the defeat of Shao Kahn. Chris was the one that defeated him twice, in Outworld and in back home. He survived many Earthrealm allies from Queen Sindel's wrath before he somehow managed to inspire her to turn against the emperor. Two years later, Sonya, Johnny and Kenshi fought the Netherrealm demons. Soldiers back then were getting slaughtered at every turn. Chris also fought the demons as well, but fought Reiko, general of Shao Kahn's armies allied with Shinnok. The battle ended with Chris being in a coma for over a year. Soon after the war, Johnny and Sonya got married and had Cassie as a result. Unfortunately, family life was cut short when Johnny divorced Sonya, mainly due to the fact that even though Sonya cares more for her allies and loved ones, in Johnny's eyes, she cares more of her responsibilities as General of the Special Forces than her new family, which is basically the reason for Cassie's personality to be just like Johnny's. Cassie's fighting style is a unique hybrid of her parents, with a strong sense of justice of her mother and the flashiness of her father. Jacqueline Sonya Briggs, Jacqui for short, is the daughter of Jackson Briggs. Long ago, Jax fell victim to the Tarkatans, along with Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Kitana. Onaga, the Dragon King, resurrected all of them as revenants. Eventually, Chris, who happened to be caught in the middle, somehow managed to defeat him, although his defeat did not break the curse of the undead until many years later, Sonya defeated Quan Chi and broke the link that freed not only Jax, but Scorpion as well. 20 years later, Chris met Cassie and the new generation of the Special Forces. He defeated Shinnok with everything he had and rescued Cassie's team. Not only that, Chris and Jade defeated Liu Kang, Kung Lao and Kitana and managed to bring them to Earthrealm. Quan Chi was being held at the Special Forces Refugee Kamp when Shinnok corrupted the Jinsei. During Chris' battle with Shinnok, Quan Chi removed the curse from all three of them. Just then, Tanya appeared. Sonya informed her that the curse was broken. Tanya told her that Queen Sindel's judgment of the sorcerer would be put in place. Soon, Shinnok was defeated and Earthrealm was once again saved. Now, Jacqui gained the upper hand against Cassie, but Cassie pushed her back with a Shadow Kick, courtesy of Johnny Cage. Like fater, like daughter, huh?
"Holy shit. That totally happened," said Cassie.
"We broke his Best Actor Blueberry Award for Ninja Mime."
"Worst actor, actually. Dad kept it remind himself, "Hater gonna hate."
"Is he gonna be pissed?"
"At his Warrior Palace? Please. If we were at Sonya's, she'd be like, "CLEAN THIS MESS UP! NOW DO 10 SETS OF BURPIES! SPRINT TWO MILES! WORK, YOU LAZY SCUMBAGS! WORK!" If you don't know what a burpie is, basically burpies are a excellent form of cardiovascular endurance training. They are a series of exercises that are done one after the other for 30-60 minutes. There are endless varieties. The most basic one is when you do 50 push-ups to get your blood flowing, then while standing with your feet shoulder-length apart, you bend your legs out behind you and hopefully land in a push-up position. Five or more push-ups are done from this position. Then, in one swift motion, you draw your legs forward in a original shoulder-width position and then stand up. They can be done alone or with a partner. When doing it alone, run in place for 3 seconds between repetitions. When doing it with a partner, while you're doing the burpie, your partner runs in place and vice versa.
"Then why you split?" asked Jacqui.
At the Special Forces HQ
Jade and Chris walked with Sonya and a few others.
"Colonel Blade..."
Colonel? Since when did Sonya become colonel?
"...please, he's the emperor of Outworld."
"Disputed emperor," Sonya corrected.
"The general's orders are clear: Do not start an interrealm war."
'You forget I have a mother's touch?"
"She's got a point," said Chris.
"Yes, about that... Cassie snuck off the base this morning, again. We can send a team at Johnny's place..."
"Cassie is not our concern right now," Chris said.
"Chris is right," said Sonya. "If she wants to be with her father, then let him deal with her. That'll be all, Goodman."
Chris, Jade and Sonya enter a chamber. Chris notices Kotal Kahn, along with D'Vorah and Erron Black.
"Emperor," said Chris.
"Kotal, you picked a bad time to pay a visit."
"As you people in Earthrealm say, "Desperate times call for desperate measures," said Kotal. "I have been at war with Mileena... for ten years. That fight for the throne... has ravaged Outworld. We are diminished."
"Wait, I though Mileena wasn't going for the throne anymore," Chris said.
"She has changed her mind it seems. Aid us, or Earthrealm will suffer the same fate."
"Sound like a threat, emperor. Earth fights our own battles. Go fight yours in Outworld.
"Do not turn your back on Emperor Kotal Kahn!" Yelled D'Vorah as Sonya turned and walked away.
"As my people say, we're done here."
"This One says we're not!" D'Vorah attacked Sonya with her pincers, but Sonya cut it apart and kicked D'Vorah in the face. Chris pulled out HK45C. "Enough, D'Vorah!"
"We are not her for Kombat!" Kotal yelled as he and Erron Black broke free of the chains.
"I clocked you for a backstabber at the door, lady. And you wonder why I don't trust your boss..."
"Please, Colonel, we must an alliance, for the fate of the realms depends on it."
"Why should ally with you?" asked Jade.
"Because once Mileena claims the throne, not only Outworld would be in turmoil, but Earthrealm as well."
"Great," Chris was annoyed. "Another Civil War."
Back to Cassie, she and Jacqui were heading into a club.
"It's a 21-and-over club?! What if we get busted and I get kicked out of training camp? You know how my dad is with bad news..."
"We wont get caught. Trust in Cage." Whatever you say, Cassie.
"You on the list?" asked the club bouncer.
"Should be. Name's Cage. Cassie Cage."
"This way, and please tell your dad that Rudy at Dom's thinks Ninja Mime was a underrated classic."
"Ok, that was cool."
The club they entered is actually an UFC-inspired fighting arena for female competitors.
"Here, you can research more than one style. I bet we can take on any of these chicks. I'm gonna sign up."
"Very funny. Real talk This... is...AWESOME!"
Cassie went to the restroom as Jacqui was watching the fight. The brunette held her blonde opponent in a headlock so tight it shattered the blonde's collarbone.
"Cassie!" Jacqui looked shocked. She raced to find her preparing for her first match.
"I told you to wait..." said Cassie.
"Please tell you didn't really sign up. This isn't MMA, it's a deathmatch!"
"Gimme a break, Jacqui. Who said anything about a deathmatch?"
"Announcing a suprise guest for our first Celebrity Deathmatch..."
Cassie knew right then Jacqui was right.
"F.M.L." (Fuck my life)
"...in her bloodcage debut, daughter of shlockbuster legend Johnny Cage, here's Cassie Cage!"
Cassie and Jacqui were being escorted back to the arena. Cassie gets thrown into the caged arena.
"Let's hope she fights better than her dad acts, eh?"
The audience at Cassie's expense.
"Haters gonna hate, Cage," Cassie said to herself. "They want a show, give 'em one."
Cassie gives everyone two middle fingers.
"BRING IT ON, STARFUCKERS! I'M THE BEST FIGHTER HERE!" This is gonna cost her.
"Facing Cassie tonight with 21 wins, no losses, 13 Flawless Victories and 21 fatalities, here's Frost!"
Aw, shit!
"Some Beverly Hills Brat? This kill will be easy."
CW2K: Two entered, but only one will leave alive. Stay tuned for Part 2 of Caged.