A/N: Some are wondering when is the Raiden and Kara relationship coming into it. Its a slow burner. Kara still has some growing up to do, life lessons to learn. Think of it as a candle that takes quite a while to burn. You know it'll burn down eventually, but you can't be sure exactly when it will. This is based over twenty years after all. Hopefully its anticipated? Oh, and Snake's bio is now on DeviantArt, under Aquamonkey92.

Brought A Gun To A Knife Fight

After his speech, the space cleared as people reluctantly returned to their jobs and chores. A strange, black eyed, hissing woman slithered around Kara. A few flies followed her. She resisted the urge to squeal and swatted her hand. Kara looked this woman up and down, unable to read her mind, or perceive her first move.

She did not need her telepathy here. It was plain to see the woman wanted a fight. Kotal raised both brows in her direction.

"Desist D'Vorah".

D'Vorah nodded, walking to his side. The man in the Stetson flanked his other side.

"I was not aware how grave the situation had become. I'd had reports of harvests failing, though, when I saw the lands, I understood why. We've had next to no rain this year".

A rumbling and quaking ground alerted the group. Kara span around and was almost knocked over by a humongous beast, with a cackling woman on 'its' back. She hissed, pointing metal talons at Cassie.

"You here make trouble, skinny?"

Cassie looked at her, then this beast.

"Says the woman, who looks like if a gust of wind blew up, she'd snap in half".

The blond blew a bubble with her gum and popped it mockingly. Ferra placed a claw on her chest and drew an invisible line across her heart whilst looking at the sergeant.

Kotal growled. "Ferra, stop!"

Torr reared back, ready to attack. Ferra yanked the back of his head back, and spoke to him. He soon stopped his attack.

Jin reasoned. "Woah there big guy", he put his hands up, his friends doing the same, once they caught on, "we aren't trying to start anything. Emperor. Could we talk somewhere a little less, open? Sensitive matters and all".

Kotal nodded. Kara stepped in.

"I can create a portal to the palace".

She blanched slightly. The Emperor caught that but didn't comment on it.

The large man loomed over her, tapping a foot, impatiently. She could have smirked as she created and opened a portal, but didn't, lest she aggravate the man they'd come to speak too, and only just managed to sway...

Kara hadn't had a chance to see just how grand the palace really was as the group walked to the entrance stairwell. Its grounds spanned acres of lush emerald trees, tall, with thick trunks. They had been here for hundreds of years.

Jin piped up. "Thanks for granting us an audience Emperor. I know our presence here isn't wanted, but I assure you. We aren't here to cause trouble for you or the realm. We must get down to business".

Kotal looked to the man beside him. He seemed twitchy, trigger fingers at the ready. He waved a hand in warning.

"Erron".

His tone made the gunslinger take his hands off his beloved pistols. Cassie narrowed her eyes. Something about him made Cassie nervous. She knew that if he wished to, in a split second, he could have his guns drawn and they'd all be dead. This kept her wary, on edge. She'd keep an eye on him, for her and the group's sake.

The inner sanctum of the grand building felt cold, uninviting. Jacqui shivered. Takeda saw this and put his arm around her. Kara, who was behind them 'aww'd' silently. Their sweet gestures took the edge off the breezy hallways. Kotal led them to the throne room. Goosebumps prickled on her arms, so Kara took the jumper from around her waist and put it on. She took a seal and letter from her back pocket too, handing them to Kotal after he sat down upon the throne.

Kotal took the items whilst casually glancing at the shivering woman in front of him. Arms in sleeves too long, limbs curled around her frame. She mimicked a child when they were uncomfortable, the arms used as a precautionary measure, protecting, guarding herself against an invisible enemy. He did not bristle at the dip in temperature. It seemed humans were not capable in cooler climate environments.

He had them at a disadvantage, and, judging by how glum they all looked, they knew it.

"Who is this Sub-Zero?"

"He's my leader, the Grand-Master of the Lin Kuei. The crest in your hand is our symbol, the dragon. It's a peace offering. Cassie?" She gestured behind her. The buzz-cut blond took Raiden's amulet out her pack and held it out. Erron scoffed.

"I could buy one of those from a street vendor".

Cassie groaned. "I could buy one of your tacky ass hats from one too, but, I'll pass".

Jin and Kara glared at her. She waved a hand nonchalantly.

"Cass, this isn't the time to be nonchalant. We're talking politics here, inter-realm relations".

Jin backed up Takeda's wise words.

"He's right. This is real, not some game. Both sides need to be strategic. There's clearly a problem, and we need to work together to fix it".

A side of Kara's lips turned down. "Not sure it's that simple, but the two of you are right". She turned back to Kotal, but looked at Erron,

"You are an Earthrealmer, are you not?"

Erron nodded. "I see no reason as to why that would matter".

Kara squinted for a second, before looking to the Emperor.

"Emperor. Is Erron your guard dog? Because I don't think you need one. Not a 'lowly human' one anyway".

The group gasped sharply. Kotal was perturbed as he looked to Erron. The cowboy was fuming.

"Guard dog? Watch your tongue, girl".

Kotal had heard enough. He waved a hand, as if to swat the man away.

"Does he need to be here? Shouldn't he be outside with beehive over there?"

"Leave us".

Erron stalked off, not without a look of disgust upon his face.

"How did you? Stay out of my head girl".

The Emperor's warning tone was enough for Kara to back down.

"I apologise Emperor, but we don't need a jittery, trigger-happy servant in a meeting about peace".

Kotal barked out laughter, intonation mocking.

"Peace? You speak of peace?"

Jin reasoned. "Emperor. After what the prior emperor did, Earthrealm is worried. It has a right to be. Shao did not care for us. Peace was a joke to him, so was freedom. He ruled with an iron fist, a vise grip, unflinching brute force. As you, forgive me, but, as you have not attempted to rid the fear of you doing the same thing, this is why we are here. We need conformation that you will not try to harm us, we act as peacekeepers, or our realm. In turn, we will not attempt a coup, or do anything to incur it's wrath".

Jacqui, who had been quiet until now piped in, clenching a fist.

"But your people may well attempt a coup Emperor. They suffer, they die, they flee in droves and yet, nothing seems to be done to help them. I'm not saying that's your fault. I'm merely saying that their cries fell upon unknowing ears. If you had known...".

The Emperor cut her off. "I would have assisted them. In my time, when people needed assistance, other would come to their aid. They would not go without help. I will pen and issue decrees. More land, irrigation and portions of the treasury will be given to each farmer. His livestock will be tended too, and medicine given if need be".

Kara smiled. So did the group. The dour mood lifted considerably.

"Thank you Emperor. I, er. Could I get that in writing perchance? Just so we have physical as well as verbal confirmation".

Kotal nodded, passing the letter and crest back. Kara shook her head.

"Keep them, as proof of our word".

The Emperor nodded, and gestured for them to leave. The group bowed, Kara turned and put her thumbs up. The five bit back laughter as they walked to the entrance. Erron would like to have thought no one saw his hands reach behind him, behind his holsters. Cassie was having none of it.

"Watch it cowboy. We've a demi-goddess on our side".

Kotal perked up. openly stared at Kara.

"A demi-goddess? You neglected to tell me that".

The woman in question shrugged.

"I didn't feel the need too. I don't want to look like I'm bragging".

"That's the power I felt. Once you entered the complex, I felt a substantial energy increase, So, you are the source".

Kara looked away. Was that a compliment? She wasn't sure if she blushed from nerves or shyness.

"If you think that was strong, you should meet my Mother".

It steadily grew awkward in the room. Kotal perused the letter again, his mind flicking back to before he became emperor. He had read Shao Kahn's journals before burning them and discovered that twenty two years ago, a Lin Kuei warrior named 'Kara' had been brought here, and used in a ritual, to rend her soul from her body, and place it in another. Was this the Kara that stood before him? Her hesitance and shifting made sense to him now. He decided to ease up on his criticisms of the group and the realm they inhabited. No doubt if they were here, there must be an issue he hadn't been made aware of.

Kara coughed. "Can we go Emperor? We must be getting back"...

Cassie's phone began blaring. All eyes snapped onto her and she flushed awkwardly. She shook her head, and walked outside to answer the call. Takeda broke the silence.

"Well, that broke the ice, well and truly huh".

Kara had enough of being here. In all the improvements she'd made in her life, she hadn't bargained on returning here, to the place that was her prison for six months. She felt choked, like invisible hands were around her throat. Needing to get out before she passed out was now her top priority.

She bit the bullet, and knew what the Emperor was thinking. She hadn't yet severed her connection, something she knew she should have done after he'd specifically told her not to pry in there. She may not like what she'd hear.

And Gods, was he right. She felt sickened by it. The sheer frigid temperature, the nausea, the shame, it all came flooding back...

"Being here brings back terrible memories".

Kotal moved back, unimpressed that the woman still kept a link with his mind. However, he was not about to judge her after reading about her past. Here? Here was a source of negativity and intense stress for her. He wouldn't try to delve more into what occurred though, and would not keep the warriors here any longer than they needed to be.

She continued. "The last Emperor and his 'lackeys' kidnapped me twenty two years ago. They used my soul to create a weapon against Earthrealm, against my friends. I was left in the energy chamber, mere threads from death", she paused, voice reducing to a mutter, "in a perpetual state of nightmares".

The group did not know this information either. Jin swore, Jacqui bristled and Takeda paled.

The man kept his voice low, respectful. "I cannot imagine what you went through here, what you witnessed".

"I didn't witness much, thankfully". She looked around. "Sorry guys. I didn't want to bring the tone down. Come on". She looked back at the Emperor. "Than you for your time. You didn't have to grant us any but you did. Hopefully this has paved the way for more talks?"

Kotal nodded. The group collectively bowed, leaving the majestic, yet haunting palace behind in their wake...

Cassie rushed at them, breathing heavily, bent over at the waist. She held out her phone, face bewildered.

"Fuck!"

Kara waved a hand, concerned.

"Woah there. Slow down Cass. What's happened?"

She struggled to get in oxygen.

"Mom and Dad found Quan Chi. They brought him back to the kamp. Not hours later later, Master Hasashi shows up, alongside thirty Shirai Ryu guys, and they are at a standoff. Now, they trust that he won't hurt them, or direct his men to do so, but still", she growled, "fuck!"

Kara groaned, palming her forehead.

"He couldn't wait, he just couldn't. I know he wants revenge, and he fully deserves it, but there's a reason he should have waited", she sighed, "Quan is much stronger than he. With the combined power of he and Shang Tsung's souls inside him, Scorpion stands no chance. Unless the sorcerer is weakened, he's about to die, in front of his men too. We need to get back, now. He's gunning for the old bastard's head, without regard for consequences".

Jacqui frowned. "Hold up. Surely if Scorpion wins, then it'll all be over, with Quan I mean".

Kara shook her head.

"Quan never plans alone. He's plotting, likely has been all this time".

Once in the town square, the General of the Lin Kuei opened the portal back to the military kamp. She saw Sonya, Johnny and Kenshi being held 'hostage' by Shirai Ryu men. She then saw Hanzo, dragging Quan Chi out of the container he was held in.

"Shit"...

She swore, turned and nodded.

The group ran through the portal, and straight into the chaos...

Twenty-one years ago

Kara's head followed Snake's form as he twisted and flipped away from her. They were supposed to be training, having a 'fight', and yet, the man was easily outwitting her. She bit back a growl. His movements baffled and amazed her in equal measure.

"I get why they call you Snake now. That's why huh". She laughed, "I can imagine you trying to do that when you're eighty".

Snake stood up and dusted himself off.

"Well, I've been able to do it since I was four, so who knows? I may still be fighting fit at in my octogenarian years".

The woman frowned.

"What is it with you and big words? You remind me of someone. I think you and he would have scintillating conversation". She paused.

Well, he'd be on his guard with you being around me. But, since Sub-Zero likes you, my Dad does, and I do...

Wait...

I do?

This threw her for a loop. She shook her head disapprovingly, her thoughts inappropriate. She put up her hands. Snake's tone questioned her sudden silence.

"Aren't we supposed to be fighting?"

Kara snapped back into the room and shook her head. "You beat me".

Snake breathed heavily. He let out tired, breathy laughter.

"What if I don't want to beat you?"

Kara squinted. "Oh...I get it. Come on then", she beckoned him, index finger teasing, "fight me, and, this time, lets do it properly".

He nodded. "Right". He smirked, getting into his stance whilst returning the beckoning, "Bring it".